Swine hepatitis E virus and uses thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses the isolation and chaterization of a novel swine hepatitis E virus and the use of the virus, the proteins and its nucleic acid sequence as diagnostic reagents and vaccines.

This application is a national stage of PCT/US98/14665 filed Jul. 17, 1998 which claims benefit of provisional appliction 60/053,069 filed Jul. 18, 1997.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Hepatitis E occurs predominantly in developing countries of Asia and Africa but has also been the cause of epidemics in Mexico (1). The disease generally affects young adults and has a very high mortality rate, up to 20%, in pregnant women (1-4). Hepatitis E has rarely been reported in developed countries, and most of those cases have been imported (1, 4-6). The causative agent, hepatitis E virus (HEV), is transmitted primarily by the fecal-oral route, often through contaminated water (1, 4). The availability of sensitive serological tests for HEV has permitted detailed assessment of the prevalence of HEV infection (7-8). In regions where HEV is endemic, anti-HEV antibodies have been detected in sera from convalescent individuals as well as from the general population (1, 3). Although hepatitis E is not endemic in the United States and other developed countries, anti-HEV was found in a significant proportion, up to 28% in some areas, of healthy individuals in these countries (7, 9). It is unclear if the anti-HEV detected in developed countries demonstrates infection with a non-pathogenic HEV strain or cross-reactivity with a related agent.

It has been reported that anti-HEV is acquired naturally in primates and swine (1, 10), suggesting that these species have been exposed to HEV or a related agent, and that hepatitis E may be a zoonotic disease. The role of swine in HEV transmission is not clear although domestic swine have been reported to be susceptible to infection with a human HEV strain (11). It would be advantageous to have an animal strain of HEV that could be studied in animals but would sufficiently resemble the human virus as to make the results of studies with the animal virus applicable to the human disease. It would be particularly advantageous to have an animal virus that could be useful in preparing vaccines and other medicaments for treatment of animals, especially humans.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It has been reported that domestic swine can be experimentally infected with HEV (11), although this infection appears more severe in swine than in non-human primates. In our own examination, swine inoculated with human HEV remained clinically normal and we detected no antibody response to HEV. While it has been suggested that human feces from infected individuals are the primary source of infection for hepatitis E in humans, swine have been suggested as a possible animal reservoir and natural host for the virus. For example, in some geographical areas the prevalence of anti-HEV in swine is even higher than that found in humans and swine have been suggested as a possible year round reservoir for HEV (10). However, the occurrence of IgG anti-HEV in swine does not necessarily mean that HEV infection has occurred. Hepatitis E is not endemic in the United States and yet our own studies have indicated that the majority of swine 2 to 3 months of age in the midwestern United States have IgG anti-HEV. In addition, IgG anti-HEV is also found in a significant proportion of healthy humans in countries, including the United States, where hepatitis E is not endemic (7). Such data indicated to us that an agent or agents other than human HEV, but antigenically closely related to human HEV, exists within the swine population. The antibody induced by this putative agent has been shown to cross-react with a human HEV antigen used in serological testing. Such findings mean that caution must be used in interpreting serological data, especially from non-endemic regions. Identification of such a putative agent would, of course, be highly advantageous in order to develop more specific serological tests for HEV infection. The detection and isolation of such a virus from swine would also be desirable in determining the possible existence of an animal reservoir for HEV. In addition, such a virus, if capable of infecting swine but not causing illness, might be well suited for use as a vaccine or therapeutic agent for use in vaccinating and treating mammals, especially humans. Thus, such a virus could well serve as an attenuated live virus vaccine strain.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a novel swine hepatitis E virus (swine HEV) strain in isolated form and with sufficient nucleotide sequence homology in its genome, and sufficient amino acid sequence homology in its capsid protein, both relative to human HEV, as to be highly useful in the evaluation of potential human infection by endogenous swine sources, including potential infection resulting from xenotransplantation, especially transplanting of swine organs and tissues into humans.

The swine hepatitis E virus of the present invention is also useful as a vaccine for vaccination of animals, preferably mammals, and most preferably humans, against infection by other strains of hepatitis E virus. The swine HEV of the present invention would, for example, be especially useful as a vaccine for use in humans to prevent possible infection by human hepatitis E virus (or HEV). The swine HEV of the present invention accomplishes this by providing only a subclinical infection on its own and thereby immunizing the subject animal, for example, a human, in, for example, a manner similar to that accomplished by cowpox virus in immunizing against smallpox.

The present invention also relates to use of a novel swine HEV as a therapeutic treatment for infection by other strains of HEV by injection of the virus of the invention to bolster the immune response of an infected animal while providing only a subclinical infection on its own.

The swine HEV of the present invention is also highly useful in the generation of bosh polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies which themselves find use as therapeutic agents for treatment of animals, especially mammals, and most especially humans, in need thereof.

The antibodies produced in response to the swine HEV of the present invention also find use in the development of in vitro diagnostic protocols for early detection of HEV infection in animals, especially mammals, and most especially humans.

The swine HEV of the present invention is particularly advantageous for use in the development of prophylactic, therapeutic and diagnostic agents for the prevention, treatment and detection of human HEV because it is not a human virus and thus can be handled both experimentally and clinically without fear of severe infection and/or contamination.

SPF swine were experimentally infected with the swine HEV of the present invention. Therefore, infection of swine with the swine HEV can provide an appropriate animal model for human HEV experiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1C. This figure shows seroconversion of 3 representative piglets to anti-HEV by plotting age (abscissa) in weeks versus the absorbance (or OD) of serum for IgG (left ordinate) and IgM (right ordinate); (FIG. 1A) a piglet born to a seropositive sow with a high titer of IgG anti-HEV; (FIG. 1B) a piglet born to a seropositive sow with a lower titer of IgG anti-HEV; (FIG. 1C) a piglet born to a seronegative sow. The ELISA absorbance value of IgG anti-HEV in breeder sows is shown at (S).

FIG. 2. Amplification of swine HEV-specific fragment by RT-PCR. Serum samples from 2 piglets (#4 and #14) obtained 1 week before (−1) and the week of (0) seroconversion were used for RT-PCR of a 344 bp fragment. Serum samples obtained at the same time (weeks 19 and 20) after birth from a seronegative piglet (#15) were also included. “L” represents the molecular weight markers.

FIGS. 3A-3B. Alignment of amino acid sequences of Open Reading Frames 2 (orf 2) (at FIG. 3A) and orf 3 (at FIG. 3B) of swine HEV with human strains of HEV. The sequence of the Sar55 strain is shown at the top, and only differences between them are indicated. Deletions are indicated by (−). The putative hypervariable region (HVR) in the ORF3 is indicated by asterisks (*). The sequences used in this alignment were Burma: FIG. 3A—SEQ ID NO: 50; FIG. 3B—SEQ ID NO: 13 (14), Mexico: FIG. 3A—SEQ ID NO: 48; FIG. 3B—SEQ ID NO: 58 (15) NE8L: FIG. 3A—SEQ ID NO: 55; FIG. 3B—SEQ ID NO: 60 (Myanmar, 16), Hyderabad: FIG. 3A—SEQ ID NO: 54; FIG. 3B—SEQ ID NO: 64 (India, 17), Madras: FIG. 3A—SEQ ID NO: 51; FIG. 3B—SEQ ID NO: 13 (India, GenBank Accession No. 99441), HEV037: FIG. 3A—SEQ ID NO: 53; FIG. 3B—SEQ ID NO: 61 (isolate from a case of fulminant hepatitis, GenBank Accession No. X98292), Sar55: FIG. 3A—SEQ ID NO: 12; FIG. 3B—SEQ ID NO: 13 (Pakistan, 18), KS2-87: FIG. 3A—SEQ ID NO: 49; FIG. 3B—SEQ ID NO: 59 (China, 19), Hetian: FIG. 3A—SEQ ID NO: 56; FIG. 3B—SEQ ID NO: 63 (China, GenBank Accession No. L08816), Uigh179: FIG. 3A—SEQ ID NO: 52; FIG. 3B—SEQ ID NO: 62 (China, 20).

FIG. 4. Phylogenetic tree based on the complete nucleotide sequences of ORFs2 and 3. The tree was constructed by maximum parsimony methods with the aid of PAUP software package version 3.1.1. The tree with the shortest length (most parsimonious) was found by implementing the bootstrap (1000 replicas) using the branch-and-bound search option. The branch lengths (number given above each branch) are indicated.

FIG. 5. Experimental infection of specific-pathogen-free swine with the swine HEV. The IgG anti-HEV response is plotted. Viremia was measured by RT-PCR as indicated along the top.

FIGS. 6A-6J show the nucleotide (FIGS. 6A-6C)and deduced amino acid sequences (FIGS. 6D-6J) of the ORF1 of the swine HEV.

FIGS. 7A-7D show the complete genomic sequence of the swine HEV.

FIGS. 8A-8B. Amplification of the complete genome of swine HEV. (FIG. 8A) The genomic organization of HEV and its putative functional domains are shown beneath the nucleotide scale bar (in Kb). The relative positions of the PCR fragments are indicated by bars. (FIG. 8B) Oligonucleotide primers used to amplify each fragment are indicated. Both the first round PCR primers and the second round nested PCR primers (italics) are shown (SEQ ID NOS: 14-47 respectively). Degenerate bases are shown in parentheses. Mt, methyltransferase; Y, Y domain; P, cysteine-like protease; Pro, proline-rich “hinge” region; X, X domain; Hel, helicase; RDRP, RNA-directed RNA polymerase.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to novel and useful hepatitis E virus strains from swine and naturally occurring mutants thereof.

As shown a long time ago with smallpox virus, it is highly advantageous to have available an attenuated virus, such as cowpox, to use for vaccination purposes. Such relatively innocuous virus particles, which can cross-react with antibodies against the more deadly organisms, can often be used to produce a highly effective vaccine to immunize at-risk animals, especially humans, against infection with otherwise extremely virulent microbes. In the same way, it would behighly advantageous to have a similar attenuated type of vaccine to use in immunization programs against hepatitis E virus. It is an object of this invention to provide such a vaccine.

In accordance with the present invention, a swine hepatitis E virus has been identified and shown to be similar in its characteristic properties to human hepatitis E virus. The virus of the present invention has been shown to be similar to the human virus by demonstrating seroconversion of pigs to anti-HEV, sequence similarity between the virus of the invention and human strains of HEV, viremia just prior to seroconversion, and histologic evidence of hepatitis infection in naturally-infected pigs. The swine-HEV cross-reacted with human HEV capsid antigen, and the infected piglets showed microscopic evidence of hepatitis during the acute stage of the infection.

The high prevalence of anti-HEV in commercial swine herds suggest that swine HEV is widespread in the general swine population. However, our results showed that naturally infected young pigs did not display clinical symptoms despite microscopic evidence of hepatitis. This suggests that swine HEV causes only subclinical infection in young pigs, a situation reminiscent of hepatitis A virus (HAV) in humans (21). Children infected with HAV are often asymptomatic, but most adults infected show typical clinical symptoms(21). It is difficult to evaluate the outcome of natural swine HEV infection in adult pigs since virtually all swine at least 3 months of age had IgG anti-HEV. Experimental infection of adult SPF swine with swine HEV will likely be necessary to answer this question.

The amino acid differences between swine and human HEV in the putative capsid gene are less than 10%. However, the high degree of amino acid sequence conservation in the capsid gene among human strains of HEV could indicate a functional significance for the differences between swine and human HEV. For example, in some cases only a few changes, or even a single change, in amino acid units of a structural protein have dramatically altered viral tropism and pathogenicity (22, 23). Of course, it is not clear whether swine HEV evolved into human HEV, or vice versa, or whether they diverged from a common ancestor. Regardless of lineage, the possibility that swine HEV could infect humans raises a potential public health concern for zoonosis or xenozoonosis, especially since xenotransplantation of pig organs has been suggested as a solution to the solid organ donor shortage for transplantations. Thus, xenozoonoses, the inadvertent transmission of pathogens from animal organs to human recipients, is of major concern (24). Viruses pathogenic for pigs might pose a risk to humans. However, nonpathogenic pig viruses may also become pathogenic for humans after xenotransplantation, as a result of species-jumping, recombination or adaptation in immunocompromised xenotransplantation recipients (24). Furthermore, pigs recovered from swine HEV infection might have a damaged liver (or other organ) which would limit usefulness for xenotransplantation.

Because of these and other potential public health concerns, it would be highly advantageous to have a swine HEV that is sufficiently closely related to human HEV as to allow evaluation as a potential source of infection in humans. In accordance with the present invention, such a swine HEV has been isolated and shown to have substantial nucleotide sequence homology with the human hepatitis E virus. Also in accordance with the present invention, the entire open reading frames (ORF) 2 and 3 were amplified by RT-PCR from sera of naturally-infected pigs. The putative capsid gene (ORF2) of swine HEV shares about 79% to about 80% sequence identity at the nucleotide level and about 90% to about 92% identity at the amino acid level related to human HEV strains. The small ORF3 of swine HEV had about 83% to about 85% nucleotide sequence identity and about 77% to about 82% amino acid identity with human HEV strains. The putative nonstructural proteins of ORF1 of swine HEV share about 98% amino acid identity with the U.S. human isolates of HEV but only about 80-81% identity with HEV strains from Asia and Mexico. Phylogenetic analyses showed that swine HEV is closely related to, but distinct from, human HEV strains.

The availability of an HEV capable of infecting both humans and animals with a subclinical hepatitis infection would be highly advantageous if used prophylactically, in the form of a vaccine, or therapeutically, as an inoculum to treat early-stage infections. When the present invention is used prophylactically, the agents are provided in advance of any symptom. This prophylactic use of the swine HEV serves to prevent or ameliorate any subsequent infection. When used therapeutically, the swine HEV of the present invention is provided at (or shortly after) the onset of any symptoms of infection. The swine HEV of the present invention can therefore be provided either before any anticipated exposure to hepatitis E virus (either swine or human), so as to ameliorate the anticipated severity, duration or extent of any subsequent infection or disease conditions, or after the onset of infection and disease.

When the swine HEV of the present invention is used as a vaccine, said vaccine comprises a pharmaceutical composition containing a sufficient number of viral particles, or recombinant proteins, to elicit a prophylactically effective immune response in the organism to be vaccinated, said amount also depending on the route of administration. The vaccine according to the present invention can thus be administered by oral, subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular or intraperitoneal routes. One skilled in the art will certainly appreciate that the amounts to be administered for any particular treatment protocol can be readily determined without undue experimentation. Suitable amounts might be expected to fall within the range of about 2 μg of viral protein per kg of body weight to about 100 μg viral protein per kg of body weight. Of course, the actual amounts will vary depending on the route of administration as well as the sex, age, and clinical status of the subject which, in the case of human patients, is to be determined within the sound judgment of the clinician.

The vaccine of the present invention may be employed in such forms as capsules, liquid solutions, suspensions or elixirs for oral administration, or sterile liquid forms such as solutions or suspensions. Any inert carrier is preferably used, such as saline, phosphate-buffered saline, or any such carrier in which the swine HEV of the present invention can be suitably suspended. The vaccines may be in the form of single dose preparations or in multi-dose flasks which can be utilized for mass-vaccination programs of both animals and humans. For purposes of using the swine HEV of the present invention as a vaccine, reference is made to Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa., Osol (Ed.) (1980); and New Trends and Developments in Vaccines, Voller et al (Eds.), University Park Press, Baltimore, Md. (1978), both of which provide much useful information for preparing and using vaccines. Of course, the swine HEV, when used as a vaccine, can include, as part of the composition or emulsion, a suitable adjuvant, such as alum (or aluminum hydroxide) when humans are to be vaccinated, to further stimulate production of antibodies by immune cells.

When the swine HEV of the present invention is used as a vaccine, the virus itself may be live, killed, or live but attenuated. However, with a swine HEV producing only subclinical symptoms in swine and in other animals, especially humans, further attenuation may not be necessary.

When the swine HEV of the present invention is used as a vaccine or inoculum, it will normally exist as a physically discrete unit suitable as a unitary dosage for animals, especially mammals, and most especially humans, wherein each unit will contain a predetermined quantity of active viral material calculated to produce the desired immunogenic effect in association with the required diluent. The dose of said vaccine or inoculum according to the present invention is administered at least once. In order to increase the antibody level, a second or booster dose may be administered at some time after the initial dose. The need for, and timing of, such booster dose will, of course, be determined within the sound judgment of the administrator of such vaccine or inoculum and according to sound principles well known in the art. For example, such booster dose could reasonably be expected to be advantageous at some time between about 2 weeks to about 6 weeks following the initial vaccination. Subsequent doses may be administered as indicated.

The swine HEV of the present invention can also be administered for purposes of therapy, where an animal, especially a mammal, and most especially a human, is already infected, as shown by well known diagnostic measures. When the swine HEV of the present invention is used for such therapeutic purposes, much of the same criteria will apply as when it is used as a vaccine, except that inoculation will occur post-infection. Thus, when the swine HEV of the present invention is used as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of infection said therapeutic agent comprises a pharmaceutical composition containing a sufficient number of viral particles to elicit a therapeutically effective response in the organism to be treated, said amount also depending on the route of administration. The therapeutic agent according to the present invention can thus be administered by oral, subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular or intraperitoneal routes, with oral or intravenous routes being preferred. One skilled in the art will certainly appreciate that the amounts to be administered for any particular treatment protocol can be readily determined without undue experimentation. Suitable amounts might be expected to fall within the range of about 2 μg of viral protein per kg of body weight to about 100 μg viral protein per kg of body weight. Of course, the actual amounts will vary depending on the route of administration as well as the sex, age, and clinical status of the subject which, in the case of human patients, is to be determined within the sound judgment of the clinician.

The therapeutic agent of the present invention can be employed in such forms as capsules, liquid solutions, suspensions or elixirs for oral administration, or sterile liquid forms such as solutions or suspensions. Any inert carrier is preferably used, such as saline, phosphate-buffered saline, or any such carrier in which the swine HEV of the present invention can be suitably suspended. The therapeutic agents may be in the form of single dose preparations or in the multi-dose flasks which can be utilized for mass-treatment programs of both animals and humans. Of course, when the swine HEV of the present invention is used as a therapeutic agent it may be administered as a single dose or as a series of doses, depending on the situation as determined by the person conducting the treatment.

The swine HEV of the present invention can also be utilized in the production of antibodies against HEV. The term “antibody” is herein used to refer to immunoglobulin molecules and immunologically active portions of immunoglobulin molecules. Examples of antibody molecules are intact immunoglobulin molecules, substantially intact immunoglobulin molecules and portions of an immunoglobulin molecule, including those portions known in the art as Fab, F(ab′)₂ and F(v) as well as chimeric antibody molecules.

The swine HEV of the present invention can be used in the generation of antibodies that immunoreact (i.e., specific binding between an antigenic determinant-containing molecule and a molecule containing an antibody combining site such as a whole antibody molecule or an active portion thereof) with antigenic determinants on the surface of hepatitis E virus particles that commonly infect non-swine species, especially humans. Thus, the observed cross-reaction between the swine HEV of the present invention and antibodies against human HEV make the swine HEV useful in generation of antibodies against human HEV, thus facilitating the use of the swine HEV as a vaccine for humans.

The present invention also relates to antibodies produced following immunization with the swine HEV according to the present invention. These antibodies are typically produced by immunizing a mammal with an immunogen or vaccine comprising the swine HEV of the present invention to induce, in said mammal, antibody molecules having immunospecificity for the swine HEV. When used in generating such antibodies, the swine HEV of the present invention may be linked to some type of carrier molecule. The resulting antibody molecules are then collected from said mammal.

The antibody molecules of the present invention may be polyclonal or monoclonal. Monoclonal antibodies are readily produced by methods well known in the art. Portions of immunoglobulin molecules, such as Fabs, as well as chimeric antibodies may also be produced by methods well known to those of ordinary skill in the art of generating such antibodies and requires no specific elucidation herein.

The antibody according to the present invention may be contained in blood plasma, serum, hybridoma supernatants, and the like. Alternatively, the antibody of the present invention is isolated to the extent desired by well known techniques such as, for example, using DEAE Sephadex. The antibodies produced according to the present invention may be further purified so as to obtain specific classes or subclasses of antibody such as IgM, IgG, IgA, and the like. Antibodies of the IgG class are preferred for purposes of passive protection.

The antibodies of the present invention are useful in the prevention and treatment of diseases caused by hepatitis E virus in animals, especially mammals, and most especially humans.

In providing the antibodies of the present invention to a recipient mammal, preferably a human, the dosage of administered antibodies will vary depending on such factors as the mammal's age, weight, height, sex, general medical condition, previous medical history, and the like.

In general, it will be advantageous to provide the recipient mammal with a dosage of antibodies in the range of from about 1 mg/kg body weight to about 10 mg/kg body weight of the mammal, although a lower or higher dose may be administered if found desirable. Such antibodies will normally be administered by intravenous route as an inoculum. The antibodies of the present invention are intended to be provided to the recipient subject in an amount sufficient to prevent, lessen or attenuate the severity, extent or duration or any existing infection.

The antibodies prepared by use of the swine HEV of the present invention are also highly useful for diagnostic purposes. The antibodies can be used as in vitro diagnostic agents to test for the presence of virus in biological samples taken from animals, especially swine and humans. Such assays include, but are not limited to, radioimmunoassays, EIA, fluorescence, Western blot analysis and the like. In one such embodiment, the biological sample is contacted with antibodies of the present invention and a labeled second antibody is used to detect the presence of HEV to which the antibodies are bound.

Such assays may be, for example, of direct protocol (where the labeled first antibody is immunoreactive with the antigen, such as, for example, a protein on the surface of the virus), an indirect protocol (where a labeled second antibody is reactive with the first antibody), a competitive protocol (such as would involve the addition of a labeled antigen), or a sandwich protocol (where both labeled and unlabeled antibody are used), as well as other protocols well known and described in the art.

In one embodiment, an immunoassay method would utilize an antibody specific for a substance comprising HEV surface antigen (HCSA) determinants and would further comprise the steps of contacting a test sample containing said test substance containing the HESA determinants with the HEV-specific antibody and then detecting the presence of HEV material in the test substance using one of the types of assay protocols as described above.

Recombinant proteins arid antibodies produced according to the present invention may also be supplied in the form of a kit, either present in vials as purified material, or present in compositions and suspended in suitable diluents as previously described. In a preferred embodiment, such a diagnostic test kit for detection of HEV antigens in a test sample comprises in combination a series of containers, each container a reagent needed for such assay. Thus, one such container would contain a specific amount of HEV-specific antibody as already described, a second container would contain a diluent for suspension of the sample to be tested, a third container would contain a positive control and an additional container would contain a negative control. An additional container could contain a blank.

Because the Open Reading Frame (ORF2) that codes for a putative capsid protein has been cloned in vitro it can be used to prepare recombinant proteins that themselves are available for use as vaccines and therapeutic agents. In accordance with the present invention, said capsid protein antigen has been prepared. A similar approach is advantageous with respect to ORFs 1 and 3 and their protein products. Since such recombinant proteins also represent antigenic determinants on the virus, and presumably are responsible for the immunogenicity of the particles of the swine hepatitis E virus of the present invention, such recombinant proteins can also be used to generate antibodies useful as therapeutic agents in the treatment of hepatitis E in animals, especially humans. Such antibodies can also be used in protocols for in vitro assays for detection of hepatitis E virus in an animal, especially a human, suspected of being infected therewith.

Because the swine HEV can be used to infect cells in culture, the present invention also relates to a method for determining the susceptibility of cells in vitro to support HEV infection. This would permit determination of the susceptibility of cells from various organs, for example, of the pig, to determine their potential use for possible transplantation into other animals, especially humans. Cells from organs susceptible to such infection might be questionable candidates for eventual transplantation. In one such embodiment, the method would comprise the growing of animal cells, especially swine cells, in vitro and exposing said cells to the swine HEV of the present invention, then determining if the cells show indicia of HEV replication. Such indicia would include the detection of viral antigens in the cell, for example, by immunofluorescent procedures well known in the art. Such viral proteins would also be detected by Western blotting using antibodies specific therefor. Such indicia would also include the successful extraction of newly transcribed viral DNA within the cells. The presence of live, infectious virus particles following such test could also be shown by injection of cell culture medium into healthy animals, with subsequent exhibition of the symptoms of HCV infection. Such testing could also be carried out with cells from tissues of other species to determine their susceptibility to infection by the swine HEV of the present invention, relying on the same criteria to show viral replication.

It is known that swine show antibodies to HEV and have been suggested as a possible animal reservoir for this virus. In addition, IgG anti-HEV is also found in a significant proportion of otherwise healthy humans from different areas. Since the causative agent is still unclear, it would be highly advantageous to determine if the antibodies found in an animal, especially a human, are the result of human HEV or perhaps a swine HEV or other animal. It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a method for differential diagnosis of HEV antibodies in animals, especially in humans, to determine the likely causative agent thereof and thus the presence of possible subclinical infections that can serve as a source of the disease. Armed with the virus of the present invention many protocols for such diagnoses will no doubt suggest themselves to those of skill in the art.

In one embodiment of the present invention a tissue sample from an animal, perhaps one suspected of harboring an infection of HEV, will be obtained and then treated with antibodies specific for either human HEV antigenic determinants or the swine HEV antigenic determinants, such as an antibody of the present invention. The formation and detection of a complex between the substance in the sample that possesses such determinants and the antibodies specific for the virus will indicate the presence of viral determinants. By titering the different antibodies to determine their relative occurrence, it is then possible to determine if the source of the antigen is of human or swine, or other animal, origin. Such differential diagnosis can be carried out on any animal, especially primates and other mammals, and most especially humans. The sample to be tested can, of course, be any tissue excised from said animal, especially blood and other fluids.

Today there is a great thrust toward the use of animal organs for transplantation into other animals, especially into humans, with pigs as a suggested arid useful donor organism. Before such programs can continue, or even begin, it would be highly advantageous to determine if any infectious agents exist in the donor animal and, if so, whether such organisms can infect the donee, especially humans. Because IgG anti-HEV is found in swine and the swine HEV of the present invention has been recovered from pigs and has great similarity to the human HEV, it is a potentially infectious agent in humans. It is thus an object of the present invention to utilize the swine HEV as a test organism for the assessment of risk factors in such xenotransplantation between the pig, as donor, and other animals, especially humans.

Various protocols to test transplantable organs and tissues for such potentially infectious agents will, of course, suggest themselves to those of skill in the art. In one such embodiment of the present invention, a biological sample of a tissue, for example, from a pig to be used as a donor organism, will be obtained prior to any transplantation and such sample is then tested for the presence of swine HEV. Such tissues for transplantation may include liver, heart and kidneys, but are by no means limited to these. The testing of such tissue for the presence of swine HEV can be accomplished by a number of procedures already disclosed herein and using methods well known in the art. For example, a candidate tissue can be examined using antibodies tagged with a label, such as an immunofluorescent label, to determine the presence or absence of swine HEV antigenic determinants therein, with complex formation (a positive reaction) indicating the presence of viral contamination. In addition, DNA extracted from cells of the candidate tissue can be amplified by RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction) and tested for hybridization therewith using nucleic acid probes, especially chemically or radioactively labeled probes, to determine the presence or absence of sequences unique to the swine HEV genome where hybridization indicates the presence of viral contamination.

For all prophylactic, therapeutic and diagnostic uses, the swine HEV of the present invention, alone or linked to some carrier, as well as antibodies and other reagents, plus appropriate devices and accessories, may be provided in the form of a kit so as to facilitate ready availability and ease of use.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Serum samples. Serum samples were obtained from swine of various ages in 15 commercial herds and one specific-pathogen-free (SPF) herd in the midwestern United

TABLE 1 IgG anti-HEV prevalence in swine from commercial herds in the United States. No. of No. of swine swine with Herd Age tested anti-HEV (%) A 6 wk 8 0(0) 12 wk 8 0(0) 20 wk 8  8(100) 26 wk 8  5(63) Adult 25 14(56) B 3-4 wk 8 0(0) 5-6 wk 8 0(0) 7-8 wk 8 0(0) 13 wk 12 10(83) 6 mo 8  8(100) Adult 17 16(94) C 2 mo 8  1(13) 3 mo 8  8(100) 4 mo 8  4(50) 5 mo 8  8(100) Adult 8  8(100) D 2 mo 10  2(20) E 6 mo 10  10(100) F 6 mo 10  10(100) G 6 mo 10  10(100) H 8 mo 10  10(100) I >1 yr 10  10(100) J 1-2 yr 10  10(100) K 1-3 yr 10  10(100) L 2 yr 10  10(100) M 2-3 yr 10  10(100) N Adult 19 15(79) O Adult 6  5(83)  P* Adult 10 0(0) *Specific-pathogen-free (SPF) swine herd.

Preparation of HEV putative capsid antigen. Insect cells were infected with recombinant baculovirus containing the putative capsid gene (ORF2) sequence of a Pakistani strain of HEV, SAR55 (8). A 55 kD recombinant protein expressed from a recombinant baculovirus containing ORF2 was purified from insect cells (8) and used for the standard ELISA. The ORF2 recombinant protein was further purified by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Generation of hyperimmune swine antibody to HEV. Two SPF swine, 3 weeks old, were immunized intramuscularly with 50 μg of HPLC-purified ORF2 recombinant protein mixed with Freund's incomplete adjuvant. Booster immunizations were given at 2 and 4 weeks after the first immunization. Sera obtained before immunization and weekly for 9 weeks after immunization were used to develop an ELISA (see below).

ELISA for anti-HEV in swine. The standard ELISA for anti-HEV in swine was performed essentially as described for anti-HEV in chimpanzees (8, 12), except that the secondary antibody was replaced with peroxidase-labeled goat anti-swine IgG (KPL, Gaithersburg, Md.). All of the swine serum samples were tested in duplicate. Preimmune and hyperimmune anti-HEV positive swine sera were included as negative and positive controls, respectively.

Blocking ELISA was used to confirm the results of the standard ELISA on selected anti-HEV positive and negative serum samples. The blocking ELISA for anti-HEV in swine was performed essentially as described (13) except that the competing sera were from swine. The ORF2 protein of strain SAR55 was used for affinity purification of anti-HEV from convalescent serum of a chimpanzee exposed twice to HEV (8). The affinity-purified chimpanzee anti-HEV was conjugated with horseradish peroxidase by a custom service (ViroStat, Portland, Me.), and used for the blocking ELISA (13). A serum sample was considered positive in the blocking ELISA if the OD value was reduced by ≧50% compared to the unblocked sample.

Prospective study. Twenty-one sows from a commercial herd were tested for IgG anti-HEV. Subsequently, twenty piglets (10 male and 10 female) were chosen from those born to seronegative sows (6 piglets) and to seropositive sows with a lower titer (6 piglets) or higher titer (8 piglets) of IgG anti-HEV. These 20 study piglets were tagged and mixed with other piglets from approximately 50 sows in the herd, and were commingled in two rooms in a nursery building. Piglets within a room were separated into pens by fences which allowed for nose-to-nose contacts. By the age of about 10 weeks, all piglets in the nursery building were moved to a finishing building that had been previously emptied and disinfected.

Blood samples and nasal and rectal swabs from the 20 study piglets were collected in alternate weeks from 2 weeks onward, and weekly after 14 weeks of age. The serum samples were tested for anti-HEV, and four piglets with an increasing ELISA OD value were sacrificed. Samples of 19 different tissues and organs were collected during necropsy, fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin and processed for routine histologic examination.

Degenerate primers for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The sequences of ten human HEV strains were aligned with a GeneWorks program (IntelliGenetics, Inc., Mountain View, Calif.). Based on this alignment, two sets of degenerate primers were designed and synthesized to amplify two different regions of the capsid gene. The primer positions indicated below are relative to the published sequence of a Burmese HEV strain (14). Set one primers: external 3156 (forward, position 5687-5708, 5′-AAT(C)TATGCC(A)AGTACCGGGTTG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 4)) and 3157 (reverse, position 6395-6417, 5′-CCCTTATCCTGCTGAGCATTCTC3′ (SEQ ID NO: 5)), and ternal 3158 (forward, position 5972-5993, 5′-GTT(C)ATGC(T)TT(C)TGCATACATGGCT-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 6)) and 3159 (reverse, position 6297-6319, 5′-AGCCGACGAAATC(T)AATTCTGTC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 7)). Set two primers: external 3160 (forward, position 6578-6600, 5′-GCCGAGTAT(C)GACCAGTCCACTTA-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 8)) and 3161 (reverse, position 7105-7127, 5′-AT(C)AACTCCCGAGTTTTACCCACC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 9)), and internal 3162 (forward, position 6645-6667, 5′-TGGTT(G)AATGTT(A)GCGACC(T)GGCGCG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 10)) and 3163 (reverse, position 7063-7085, 5′-GCTCAGCGACAGTA(T)GACTGG(A)AAA-3′) (SEQ ID NO: 10)).

RNA extraction and RT-PCR. Total RNA was extracted by TriZol reagent (GIBCO-BRL, Gaithersburg, Md.) from 100 μl of serum obtained 1 or 2 weeks before seroconversion from piglets in the Prospective study. Total RNA was then reverse transcribed with one of the two degenerate primers by using SuperScript II reverse transcriptase (GIBCO-BRL, Gaithersburg, Md.) at 42° C. for 1 hr, and the resulting cDNA was amplified by PCR using ampliTaq Gold polymerase (Perkin Elmer, Norwalk, Conn.). The PCR reaction was carried out for 39 cycles of denaturation at 94° C. for 1 min, annealing at 42° C. for 1 min, and extension at 72° C. for 2 min, followed by a nested PCR using 10 μl of the first round PCR product with a nested set of degenerate primers.

Amplification of the entire ORFs 2 and 3 of swine HEV. After the first PCR fragment was amplified and sequenced, we designed two sets of primers, with a swine HEV-specific primer at one end and a degenerate primer at the other end (primer sequences not shown). RT-PCR with these primers was performed essentially the same as described above. The entire ORFs 2 and 3 of swine HEV were amplified in this way by walking along the genome in both directions.

Sequence analysis. The PCR fragments were cut from 1% agarose gels and purified with a Geneclean Kit (Bio101, La Jolla, Calif.). Both strands were sequenced with an automated DNA Sequencer. The sequences were analyzed by the GeneWorks program. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted with the aid of the PAUP software package version 3.1.1 (David L. Swofford, Illinois Natural History Survey, Champaign, Ill.).

EXAMPLES

Standardization of an ELISA for swine anti-HEV. To establish a reliable serological test for anti-HEV in swine, we first generated hyperimmune antisera by immunizing two SPF pigs with recombinant HEV ORF2 antigen. IgG anti-HEV was first detected at 2 and 3 weeks postimmunization, and reached peak ELISA titers of 10⁻⁴ at weeks 3 and 4 postimmunization, respectively. The anti-HEV titer remained at 10⁻⁴ until the end of the 9 week experiment. An ELISA for swine anti-HEV was subsequently standardized by using the preimmune and hyperimmune swine sera along with 34 normal sera from swine raised in laboratory environments and from swine in an SPF herd. The ELISA cutoff value was set at 99% confidence bounds, based on the frequency distribution of the absorbance values of normal sera. The cutoff value was approximately 2.5 standard deviations above the mean absorbance value of the normal sera.

Serologic evidence in swine for infection with an agent related to HEV. The prevalence of anti-HEV in commercial swine herds in the midwestern United States was assessed by the standardized ELISA. Surprisingly, IgG anti-HEV was found in a majority of swine ≧3 months of age in herds in the midwestern United States where human hepatitis E is not endemic; however, most swine ≦2 months of age were seronegative (Table 1). None of the 10 adult swine from an SPF herd was seropositive (Table 1). To further validate the serology results, we performed a blocking ELISA on selected anti-HEV positive and negative swine sera. Similar results were obtained in the blocking ELISA and the standard ELISA. The HEV antigen used in ELISA was expressed in insect cells; therefore we also included insect cells infected with baculovirus lacking the HEV sequence as a negative antigen control and HPLC-purified HEV recombinant antigen as a positive antigen control. There was little or no reaction between the swine serum samples and the insect cells infected with the baculovirus lacking the HEV sequence. Thus, the swine anti-HEV reacted specifically with the human HEV capsid antigen in the standard ELISA and completed with anti-HEV in convalescent chimpanzee serum in the blocking ELISA. These data strongly suggested that a ubiquitous swine agent, antigenically related to human HEV, was circulating in the general swine population.

Natural infection of swine in a commercial herd. In an attempt to identify this putative HEV-related agent in pigs, a prospective study was conducted in a commercial swine herd in the Midwestern United States. Consistent with our seroepidemiological results, 18 of 21 pregnant sows tested from this herd were positive for anti-HEV. Piglets born to seronegative sows were seronegative at 2 weeks of age, and piglets born to seropositive sows with a lower titer of IgG anti-HEV also scored as seronegative but had a comparatively high ELISA OD value for IgG anti-HEV as shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Seroconversion of piglets to anti-HEV in a commercial herd: a prospective study Breeder Piglet sow ELISA Age Piglet ELISA OD* seroconverted No. OD* 2 wks 8 or 9 wks (wks) 15 0.908 0.550 0.036 Nt 16 0.908 0.522 0.039 19 17 0.908 0.501 0.066 Neg‡ 18 1.011 0.822 0.103 N† 19 1.011 1.264 0.148 15 20 1.011 0.979 0.146 Death§ 1 0.692 0.128 0.024 18 7 0.692 0.211 0.071 21 3 0.692 0.157 0.052 20 4 0.692 0.114 0.026 18 5 0.431 0.107 0.065 18 6 0.431 0.216 0.059 21 7 0.424 0.113 0.073 16N† 8 0.424 0.195 0.093 15 9 0.209 0.047 0.050 18 10 0.209 0.079 0.090 19 11 0.209 0.047 0.039 19 12 0.245 0.057 0.061 14 13 0.245 0.056 0.038 16 14 0.245 0.057 0.012 20N† *Elisa cut-off value: 0.3; N†: necropsied ‡Neg: remains seronegative at 21 weeks of age §Death due to unknown cause

In contrast, piglets born to seropositive sows with a higher titer of IgG anti-HEV were positive at 2 weeks of age for IgG anti-HEV (Table 2), but not for IgM anti-HEV. The level of IgG anti-HEV in seropositive piglets decreased dramatically within a few weeks after birth and had disappeared by the age of 8 or 9 weeks (Table 2, FIG. 1). Clearly, the anti-HEV detected in these newborns represented maternal antibody as evidenced by the correlation between the levels of anti-HEV in 2 weeks old piglets and in their dams (Table 2), and from the fact that the anti-HEV belonged to the IgG class. However, after the maternal antibody had waned, most of the piglets had developed their own antibodies to HEV. One piglet seroconverted to anti-HEV at the age of 14 weeks, followed within a few weeks by seroconversion of piglets in other pens housed in the same finishing building. The pattern of anti-HEV appearance, starting with piglets grouped near the first seropositive piglet, then followed by more distal ones, was consistent with seroconversion induced by an infectious agent (data not shown). By 21 weeks of age, 17 of the 20 piglets had seroconverted. Two other piglets were necropsied prior to seroconversion and one piglet died of an unknown cause. The only remaining seronegative piglet had a rising ELISA OD value but it was still below the cut-off value at the end of the 21 week study. The level of IgG anti-HEV increased steadily for several weeks after seroconversion (FIG. 1). IgM anti-HEV, indicating a newly contracted infection with this putative HEV-related agent, was also detected in all piglets which seroconverted to IgG anti-HEV. The level of IgM anti-HEV peaked about one week earlier than that of IgG anti-HEV and decreased rapidly over about 1 to 2 weeks (FIG. 1).

Clinical illness was not observed in the piglets. Four piglets believed to be at an early stage of infection were necropsied during the study. Except for a gross lung lesion consistent with a bacterial pneumonia in one piglet, other gross lesions were not apparent in 19 different tissues and organs examined during necropsy. Microscopically, all 4 piglets necropsied had evidence of hepatitis characterized by mild to moderate multifocal and periportal lymphoplasmacytic hepatitis with mild focal hepatocellular necrosis. In addition, all piglets had lymphoplasmacytic enteritis, and three piglets also had mild multifocal lymphoplasmacytic interstitial nephritis. Syncytial cells were also noticed in the tonsils and Peyer's patches of one piglet (data not shown).

Genetic characterization of the swine HEV. Since the swine anti-HEV reacted so strongly with the capsid protein of human HEV, it was probable that swine HEV shared nucleotide sequence similarity with human HEV. Therefore, two sets of degenerate primers derived from the HEV putative capsid gene were used to attempt the amplification of the swine HEV genome by RT-PCR of serum samples obtained 1 and 2 weeks before seroconversion. A fragment representing part of the swine HEV genome (FIG. 2) was first amplified by a nested-PCR with primer set 3158 and 3159. Sequence information confirmed that this initial PCR fragment was specific for swine HEV and represented part of the ORF2.

Sequence analyses of swine HEV ORFs 2 and 3. Analyses of the complete ORF 2 and 3 sequences revealed that swine HEV is closely related to, although distinct from, human HEV strains. In the putative capsid gene (ORF2), swine HEV shares with human HEV strains about 79 to 80% sequence identify at the nucleotide level, and about 90 to 92% identity at the amino acid level (Table 3, FIG. 3).

TABLE 3 Pairwise comparison of the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the open reading frames (ORFs) 2 and 3 of the swine hepatitis E virus (SHEV) with human HEV strains Strains SHEV Mexico HEV-037 Uigh-179 Hetian KS2-87 Sar55 Madras Hyderabad Burma NE8L ORF2 SHEV 79(90) 80(91) 80(91) 80(91) 80(92) 80(92) 79(92) 79(90) 79(92) 79(91) Mexico 83(79)* 81(93) 81(92) 81(93) 81(93) 81(93) 81(93) 81(92) 81(93) 81(92) HEV-037 84(82) 90(89) 94(98) 94(98) 94(98) 94(99) 94(98) 92(97) 94(98) 94(98) Uigh-179 84(80) 90(85) 97(97) 98(98) 98(99) 97(99) 93(98) 93(97) 94(99) 93(98) Hetian 84(80) 90(85) 97(97) 98(97) 99(99) 98(99) 93(98) 93(97) 94(99) 93(98) KS2-87 84(80) 90(85) 97(97) 98(98) 98(97) 98(99) 93(99) 93(98) 94(99) 94(98) Sar55 85(82) 91(87) 98(98) 99(98) 99(98) 99(98) 93(99) 93(98) 94(99) 93(99) Madras 85(82) 90(87) 98(98) 98(98) 98(98) 98(98) 99(100) 96(98) 97(99) 96(98) Hyderabad 83(77) 89(84) 95(93) 96(93) 96(93) 97(95) 97(95) 97(95) 97(98) 96(97) Burma 84(82) 90(87) 98(98) 98(98) 98(98) 98(98) 99(100) 99(100) 97(95) 98(99) NE8L 84(81) 90(87) 98(97) 98(97) 97(97) 97(97) 98(98) 98(98) 95(93) 99(98) ORF3 *The values in the table represent the percentage of nucleotide or amino acid (in bracket) sequences

However, the relatively high amino acid identity between swine and human HEV is significantly lower than the amino acid identity (97 to 99%) among human HEV strains with the exception of the Mexican strain. The Mexican strain of HEV also displayed greater sequence divergence of about 92 to 93% amino acid identity with other human HEV strains (Table 3). However, the genetic distances between swine HEV and the Mexican strain of HEV are comparable to those between swine HEV and other human HEV strains, indicating that swine HEV is also distinct from the Mexican HEV (Table 3, FIG. 3). These data suggested that we had identified a previously unrecognized swine virus belonging to the same family as human HEV.

The small ORF3 of swine HEV had about 83 to 85% sequence identity at the nucleotide level with human HEV strains, but only 77 to 82% identity at the amino acid level (Table 3). The human HEV strains also displayed a lower percentage of identities at the amino acid level than at the nucleotide level (Table 3). Most of the amino acid variations in ORF3 were clustered in a hypervariable region consisting of 17 amino acid residues near the carboxyl terminus (FIG. 3). In addition, the ORF3 of swine HEV had a single amino acid deletion near the amino terminus (FIG. 3).

The evolutionary relationships between swine and human HEV were determined on the basis of the complete nucleotide sequences of ORF2 and ORF3. The resulting phylogenetic tree revealed that human HEV strains were represented by at least two genotypes. The first genotype was represented by the Mexican strain, and the second genotype by the other human HEV strains (FIG. 4). Phylogenetically, swine HEV was unique, the most divergent of the HEV strains compared and the first member of a third genotype (FIG. 4).

Experimental infection of SPF swine with swine HEV. SPF swine were inoculated intravenously with acute phase serum samples from the prospective study already described. The inoculated swine were monitored for anti-HEV response, viremia, and liver enzymes. The inoculated swine seroconverted to anti-HEV at 5 weeks post-inoculation, and viremia appeared one week before the seroconversion (FIG. 5). The incubation period for swine HEV is about 4 to 5 weeks since the control (uninoculated) pig housed in the same room seroconverted 8 weeks post-inoculation. A pig infected apparently by contact also developed viremia as measured by RT-PCR with swine HEV-specific primers. Viremia occurred 2 weeks before seroconversion (i.e., 6 weeks post-inoculation) and lasted for 3 weeks.

Amplification of the complete genome of swine HEV. In order to extend the sequence of ORFs 2 and 3 of swine HEV to ORF1, a genome-walking strategy was utilized (FIG. 8). The complete genome of swine HEV was amplified by RT-PCR by using one swine HEV-specific primer and one HEV degenerate or consensus primer (FIG. 8). The PCR reaction conditions used to amplify different regions of the genome varied.

Sequence analysis of ORF1 and terminal NC regions of swine HEV. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of ORF1 are shown in FIGS. 6A-6J and the complete genomic sequence is shown in FIGS. 7A-7D.

The putative functional domains and the hypervariable region (HVR) in the ORF1 were compared with the corresponding regions of other HEV strains. The ORF1 of swine HEV and of the US-2 strain contain 5127 nucleotides (nts), which is 3 nts less than in the US-1 strain, but 45 and 51 nts more than in the Asian strains and the Mexico strain, respectively (data not shown). Swine HEV varied extensively, both at the nucleotide and amino acid levels, from non-U.S. strains of HEV although it was very similar to the two U.S. strains. The sequence identity in the putative methyltransferase and RDRP regions between swine HEV and non-U.S. HEV strains varied from 74 to 76% at the nucleotide level, and 84 to 89% at the amino acid level. The GDD tripeptide motif found in all viral RDRP is conserved among different strains (data not shown). In the putative helicase region, a slightly higher sequence identity between swine HEV and non-U.S. HEV strains was observed, 74 to 77% at the nucleotide level and 91 to 92% at the amino acid level. Asian strains of HEV, Burma (14), Myanmar (16), Pakistan (18), China (19) and Madras (India, Genbank accession no. X99441) are closely related to each other. The ORF1 of the Mexican strain of HEV (15), like ORFs 2 and 3, also showed much greater sequence divergence from other HEV strains, ranging from 73 to 80% sequence identity at the nucleotide level and 85 to 94% at the amino acid level. However, the sequence identity between swine HEV and the Mexican strain was as divergent as those between swine HEV or the Mexican strain and non-U.S. strains of HEV.

The 3′ NCR of swine HEV was also amplified and sequenced. The primer sequence in the extreme 3′-end was excluded, and the 3′ NCR region containing the remaining 54 bp of swine HEV was compared with the corresponding regions of other HEV strains. The 3′ NCR of swine HEV appeared to be very divergent: it shared about 87% sequence identity with that of the US-1 strain, but only about 58 to 70% sequence identity with the corresponding regions of the Asian strains. The 3′ NCR of the Mexican strain is the longest, and varied extensively from all other HEV strains, including US-1 and swine HEV. In contrast, the 3′ NCRs among the Asian strains were very conserved, ranging from 96 to 98% nucleotide sequence identity. The 5′ NCR of swine HEV was also amplified. However, only 9 nucleotides were left in the 5′ NCR of swine HEV after excluding the primer sequence used for the amplification. Therefore, further analysis of this region was not performed.

Experimental inoculation of non-human primates with swine HEV.

Two rhesus monkeys, RH-H397 (female) and RH-H398 (male) and one female chimpanzee (CH-5835) were each inoculated (Week 0) intravenously with 0.5 ml (rhesus) or 1.0 ml (chimpanzee) of a 10% fecal suspension (equivalent to approximately 10³ rhesus infectious doses) of swine HEV. Weekly serum samples were tested for anti-HEV by ELISA and for ALT levels by standard methods. The results are shown in Table 4.

TABLE 4 Week ALT (U/L) Anti-HEV IgG Post-inoculation RH-H397 RH-H398 CH-5835 RH-H397 RH-H398 CH-5835 0 42 35 29 <1:100¹ <1:100 <1:100 1 43 30 26 <1:100 <1:100 <1:100 2 43 33 27 <1:100 <1:100 <1:100 3 97 38 31 <1:100 <1:100 <1:100 4 81 39 30 1:100 1:100 <1:100 5 96 37 26 1:100 1:1000 <1:100 6 67 32 35 1:100 1:100 1:100 7 54 47 28 1:10,000 1:10,000 1:100 8 44 35 25 1:10,000 1:10,000 1:1,000 9 50 37 30 1:10,000 1:1,000 1:100 10 44 55 23 1:1,000 1:1,000 1:100 11 49 37 33 1:1,000 1:100 1:100 12 59 41 25 1:1,000 1:1,000 1:100 13 40 30 34 1:1,000 1:100 1:100 14 52 34 ²ND 1:1,000 1:1,000 ND ¹The dilution presented is the dilution of sera which gave a positive response for anti-HEV IgG in ELISA. A positive response with a dilution of 1:100 or greater is considered evidence of serconversion. ²ND = not determined.

Animals RH-H398 and CH-5835 showed no elevation in ALT levels following inoculation with the swine HEV while RH-H397 showed a slight increase in ALT levels at weeks 3, 4 and 5 post-inoculation.

In addition, both rhesus monkeys seroconverted at week 4 postinoculation while the chimpanzee seroconverted at week 6 postinoculation. Thus, the data presented in Table 4 demonstrates that in surrogates of man, the swine HEV of the present invention is completely or almost completely attenuated and elicits a strong antibody response.

Cross Challenge of Rhesus Monkeys Previously Infected With Swine HEV

Rhesus monkey RH-H397 is to be challenged intravenously with 0.5 ml (a 10⁻² dilution of the SAR55 stool pool diluted an additional 1:3 with PBS before inoculation) of 10⁴ monkey infectious doses (MID₅₀) of the SAR55 Pakistani strain of HEV (18) and Rhesus monkey RH-H398 is to be challenged intravenously with 0.5 ml ( a 10⁻² dilution of the MEX14 stool pool) of 10⁴ MID₅₀ of the MEX-14 Mexican strain of HEV (15) respectively.

Post-challenge, weekly serum samples are obtained and tested for viral RNA, anti-HEV and ALT levels by standard methods.

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65 1 5127 DNA Hepatitis E virus 1 atggaggccc atcagttcat taaggctcct ggcattacta ctgccattga gcaggctgct 60 ctggctgcgg ccaactccgc cttggcgaat gctgtggtgg ttcggccgtt tttatctcgt 120 gtacaaactg agatccttat taatttgatg caaccccggc agttggtttt ccgccctgag 180 gtactttgga atcatcctat ccagcgggca atacataatg aactggaaca gtactgccga 240 gcccgggctg gttgttgttt ggaagttgga gcccatccga gatttattaa tgacaatccc 300 aacgtcctgc accggtgctt ccttagaccg gttggccgag atgtccagcg ctggtactct 360 gcccccaccc gtggccctgc ggccaattgt cgccgctccg cgctgcgtgg ccttcccccc 420 gtcgaccgca cttactgttt tgatggattc tctcgttgtg ctttcgctgc agagaccggt 480 gtggccctct actctttaca tgacctttgg ccagctgatg ttgcggaggc tatggcccgc 540 cacgggatga cacgcctata cgccgcactg caccttcttc ccgaggtgct gctaccaccc 600 ggcacctacc acacaacttc gtacctcctg attcacgacg gtgaccgcgc tgttgtgact 660 tatgagggcg atactagtgc gggctataac catgatgtct ccatactccg tgcgtggatc 720 cgtaccacta aaatagttgg tgaccacccg ttggttatag agcgtgtgcg ggccattggc 780 tgtcattttg tgctgctgct caccgcagcc cctgaaccgt cacctatgcc ttatgtcccc 840 taccctcgtt caacggaggt gtatgttcga tccatatttg gccctggcgg ctccccatcc 900 ttgtttccgt cagcctgctc tactaaatct acatttcatg ctgtcccggt tcatatctgg 960 gatcggctca tgctttttgg tgccaccctg gatgaccagg ccttttgttg ttcacggctc 1020 atgacctacc tccgtggtat tagctacaag gtcactgtcg gtgcgcttgt cgctaatgag 1080 gggtggaacg cctctgaaga tgctcttact gcagtgatta ctgccgctta tctgactatt 1140 tgccatcagc gttatcttcg cacccaggcg atatccaagg gcatgcgccg gctggaggtt 1200 gagcacgccc agaaatttat cacaagactt tacagttggc tatttgagaa gtctggccgt 1260 gattatatcc ccggccgtca gcttcagttc tacgcacagt gccggcggtg gttatctgca 1320 ggcttccacc tagaccccag ggtgcttgtt tttgatgaat cagtgccatg ccgctgcagg 1380 acgtttttga agaaagtcgc aggtaagttc tgctgtttta tgcggtggtt agggcaggag 1440 tgtacctgtt tcttggagcc agccgaaggc ttggttggcg actatggcca tgacaacgag 1500 gcctatgagg gttctgaggt cgacccggct gaacctgctc atcttgatgt ttctgggacc 1560 tatgccgttc acgggcgcca gcttgaggct ctctataggg cacttaatgt cccacatgac 1620 atcgccgctc gagcctcccg cctaacggct actgttgagc tcactgcaag cccagaccgt 1680 ttagagtgcc gcactgtgct tggtaataag accttcagga cgacggtggt tgatggcgcc 1740 catcttgagg cgaatggtcc tgagcagtat gtcctatcat tcgacgcctc ccgccagtct 1800 atgggggccg ggtcacatag cctcacttat gagctcaccc ctgccggcct gcaggtcagg 1860 atttcatcta atggcctgga ttgcacagcc acattccccc ccggcggcgc ccctagcgct 1920 gcgccggggg aggtggcggc cttttgcagt gccctttata gatataatag gttcacccag 1980 cggcattcgc tgaccggtgg gttatggcta caccctgagg gattgctggg catcttcccc 2040 cctttctccc ctgggcacat ttgggagcct gctaaccctt tctgcgggga ggggactttg 2100 tatacccgga cttggtcaac atctggcttt tctagcgatt tctccccccc tgaggcggcc 2160 gcccccgttt tggccgctgc cccggggctg ccccacccta ccccacctgt tagtgacatt 2220 tgggtgttac caccaccttc aaaggagtct caggtcgatg cggcatctgt gccccctgct 2280 cctgagcccg ctggattacc cagctccatt gtgcttaccc tccccccccc cctccctcct 2340 gtgcgtaagc caccaacacc cccgccttcc cgcactcgtc gtctcctcta cacctatccc 2400 gacggcgcaa aggtgtatgc ggggtcattg tttgaatcag actgtaactg gctggttaat 2460 gcctcaaacc cgggccaccg ccctggaggt ggcctctgcc atgcttttta ccaacgtttc 2520 ccagaggcgt tttacccgac tgagttcatt atgcgtgagg gccttgcagc atataccctg 2580 accccgcgcc ctatcattca tgcagtggcc cccgactata gggttgagca gaatccgaag 2640 aggcttgagg cagcgtaccg ggagacttgc tcccgtcgtg gcaccgccgc ctacccgctt 2700 ctaggctcgg gtatatacca ggtccctgtc agcctcagtt ttgatgcctg ggaacgcaat 2760 caccgccccg gcgatgagct ttatttgact gagcccgccg cagcctggtt cgaggctaat 2820 aagccggcgc agccggcgct tactataact gaggacacag cccgtacggc caacctagcg 2880 ttagagatcg atgctgccac agatgttggc cgtgcttgtg ccggctgcac tatcagtcct 2940 gggattgtgc actatcagtt cactgccggg gtcccaggct cgggcaagtc tcggtccata 3000 caacagggag atgtcgatgt ggtggtcgtg cccacccggg agctccgtaa tagttggcgt 3060 cgccggggtt ttgcggcttt cacacctcac acagcagccc gtgtcactat cggtcgccgc 3120 gttgtgattg atgaggctcc atctctccct ccacacctgt tgctgttaca catgcagcgg 3180 gcctcctcgg tccatctcct tggtgaccca aatcagatcc ctgccattga ttttgaacac 3240 gccggcctgg ttcccgcgat ccgccctgag cttgctccaa cgagctggtg gcacgttaca 3300 caccgttgcc cggccgatgt atgcgagctc atacgcggag cctaccctaa aatccagacc 3360 acgagccgtg tgctgcggtc cctgttctgg aacgaacctg ctatcggcca gaagttggtc 3420 ttcacgcagg ctgctaaagc tgctaaccct ggtgcgatta cggttcatga agctcagggt 3480 gccactttta cagagaccac aattatagcc acggccgatg ccaggggcct tatccagtca 3540 tcccgggctc acgctatagt cgcactcacc cgccacactg agaagtgtgt tattctggat 3600 gctcccggcc tgctgcgtga ggtcggcatt tcggatgtga ttgtcaataa ctttttcctt 3660 gctggcggag aagtcggcca tcaccgccct tctgtgatac cccgcggtaa ccctgatcag 3720 aacctcggga ctctacaggc cttcccgccg tcctgccaga ttagtgctta ccaccaattg 3780 gctgaagaat taggccaccg tccggctcct gttgccgccg tcttgccccc ttgccctgag 3840 cttgagcagg gcctgctcta tatgccacaa gagcttactg tgtctgatag tgtgttggtt 3900 tttgagctca cggatatagt ccactgtcgc atggccgctc cgagccagcg aaaggctgtt 3960 ctctcaacac ttgtagggag atacggccgt aggacgaaat tatatgaggc agcgcattca 4020 gatgttcgtg agtccctggc caggttcatt cccactatcg ggcctgttca ggccaccaca 4080 tgtgagttgt atgagttggt tgaggccatg gtggagaagg gacaggacgg ctctgccgtc 4140 ctagagcttg acctttgcaa tcgtgacgta tcgcgcatca catttttcca aaaggattgc 4200 aacaagttta caactggtga gactatcgcc catggcaagg ttggtcaggg tatatcggcc 4260 tggagtaaga ccttctgtgc tctgtttggc ccgtggttcc gtgccattga aaaagaaata 4320 ctggccctac tcccgcctaa tatcttttat ggcgacgcct atgaggaatc agtgttcgct 4380 gccgctgtgt ccggggcggg gtcgtgcatg gtatttgaaa atgacttttc agagtttgac 4440 agtacccaaa ataatttctc ccttggcctt gagtgtgtgg ttatggagga gtgcggcatg 4500 ccccagtggc taattaggtt gtatcatctg gttcggtcag cctggatttt gcaggcgccg 4560 aaggagtctc ttaagggttt ctggaagaag cattctggtg agcctggtac ccttctctgg 4620 aacaccgtct ggaacatggc gattatagca cattgttatg agtttcgtga ctttcgtgtt 4680 gccgccttca agggtgatga ttcagtggtc ctttgtagtg actaccgaca gagccgtaat 4740 gcggctgcct taattgcagg ctgtgggctc aaattgaagg ttgactaccg ccctattggg 4800 ctgtatgccg gggtggtggt ggcccctggt ctggggacac tgcctgatgt tgtgcgtttc 4860 gccggtcggt tgtctgaaaa gaattggggc cccggcccag agcgtgctga gcagctgcgt 4920 cttgctgttt gtgacttcct tcgagggttg acaaatgttg cgcaggtttg tgttgatgtt 4980 gtgtcccgtg tttatggagt tagccccggg ctggtgcata accttattgg catgctgcag 5040 actattgccg atggcaaggc ccactttaca gagactatta aacctgtgct tgaccttaca 5100 aactctatca tacagcgggt ggaatga 5127 2 1708 PRT Hepatitis E virus 2 Met Glu Ala His Gln Phe Ile Lys Ala Pro Gly Ile Thr Thr Ala Ile 1 5 10 15 Glu Gln Ala Ala Leu Ala Ala Ala Asn Ser Ala Leu Ala Asn Ala Val 20 25 30 Val Val Arg Pro Phe Leu Ser Arg Val Gln Thr Glu Ile Leu Ile Asn 35 40 45 Leu Met Gln Pro Arg Gln Leu Val Phe Arg Pro Glu Val Leu Trp Asn 50 55 60 His Pro Ile Gln Arg Ala Ile His Asn Glu Leu Glu Gln Tyr Cys Arg 65 70 75 80 Ala Arg Ala Gly Cys Cys Leu Glu Val Gly Ala His Pro Arg Phe Ile 85 90 95 Asn Asp Asn Pro Asn Val Leu His Arg Cys Phe Leu Arg Pro Val Gly 100 105 110 Arg Asp Val Gln Arg Trp Tyr Ser Ala Pro Thr Arg Gly Pro Ala Ala 115 120 125 Asn Cys Arg Arg Ser Ala Leu Arg Gly Leu Pro Pro Val Asp Arg Thr 130 135 140 Tyr Cys Phe Asp Gly Phe Ser Arg Cys Ala Phe Ala Ala Glu Thr Gly 145 150 155 160 Val Ala Leu Tyr Ser Leu His Asp Leu Trp Pro Ala Asp Val Ala Glu 165 170 175 Ala Met Ala Arg His Gly Met Thr Arg Leu Tyr Ala Ala Leu His Leu 180 185 190 Leu Pro Glu Val Leu Leu Pro Pro Gly Thr Tyr His Thr Thr Ser Tyr 195 200 205 Leu Leu Ile His Asp Gly Asp Arg Ala Val Val Thr Tyr Glu Gly Asp 210 215 220 Thr Ser Ala Gly Tyr Asn His Asp Val Ser Ile Leu Arg Ala Trp Ile 225 230 235 240 Arg Thr Thr Lys Ile Val Gly Asp His Pro Leu Val Ile Glu Arg Val 245 250 255 Arg Ala Ile Gly Cys His Phe Val Leu Leu Leu Thr Ala Ala Pro Glu 260 265 270 Pro Ser Pro Met Pro Tyr Val Pro Tyr Pro Arg Ser Thr Glu Val Tyr 275 280 285 Val Arg Ser Ile Phe Gly Pro Gly Gly Ser Pro Ser Leu Phe Pro Ser 290 295 300 Ala Cys Ser Thr Lys Ser Thr Phe His Ala Val Pro Val His Ile Trp 305 310 315 320 Asp Arg Leu Met Leu Phe Gly Ala Thr Leu Asp Asp Gln Ala Phe Cys 325 330 335 Cys Ser Arg Leu Met Thr Tyr Leu Arg Gly Ile Ser Tyr Lys Val Thr 340 345 350 Val Gly Ala Leu Val Ala Asn Glu Gly Trp Asn Ala Ser Glu Asp Ala 355 360 365 Leu Thr Ala Val Ile Thr Ala Ala Tyr Leu Thr Ile Cys His Gln Arg 370 375 380 Tyr Leu Arg Thr Gln Ala Ile Ser Lys Gly Met Arg Arg Leu Glu Val 385 390 395 400 Glu His Ala Gln Lys Phe Ile Thr Arg Leu Tyr Ser Trp Leu Phe Glu 405 410 415 Lys Ser Gly Arg Asp Tyr Ile Pro Gly Arg Gln Leu Gln Phe Tyr Ala 420 425 430 Gln Cys Arg Arg Trp Leu Ser Ala Gly Phe His Leu Asp Pro Arg Val 435 440 445 Leu Val Phe Asp Glu Ser Val Pro Cys Arg Cys Arg Thr Phe Leu Lys 450 455 460 Lys Val Ala Gly Lys Phe Cys Cys Phe Met Arg Trp Leu Gly Gln Glu 465 470 475 480 Cys Thr Cys Phe Leu Glu Pro Ala Glu Gly Leu Val Gly Asp Tyr Gly 485 490 495 His Asp Asn Glu Ala Tyr Glu Gly Ser Glu Val Asp Pro Ala Glu Pro 500 505 510 Ala His Leu Asp Val Ser Gly Thr Tyr Ala Val His Gly Arg Gln Leu 515 520 525 Glu Ala Leu Tyr Arg Ala Leu Asn Val Pro His Asp Ile Ala Ala Arg 530 535 540 Ala Ser Arg Leu Thr Ala Thr Val Glu Leu Thr Ala Ser Pro Asp Arg 545 550 555 560 Leu Glu Cys Arg Thr Val Leu Gly Asn Lys Thr Phe Arg Thr Thr Val 565 570 575 Val Asp Gly Ala His Leu Glu Ala Asn Gly Pro Glu Gln Tyr Val Leu 580 585 590 Ser Phe Asp Ala Ser Arg Gln Ser Met Gly Ala Gly Ser His Ser Leu 595 600 605 Thr Tyr Glu Leu Thr Pro Ala Gly Leu Gln Val Arg Ile Ser Ser Asn 610 615 620 Gly Leu Asp Cys Thr Ala Thr Phe Pro Pro Gly Gly Ala Pro Ser Ala 625 630 635 640 Ala Pro Gly Glu Val Ala Ala Phe Cys Ser Ala Leu Tyr Arg Tyr Asn 645 650 655 Arg Phe Thr Gln Arg His Ser Leu Thr Gly Gly Leu Trp Leu His Pro 660 665 670 Glu Gly Leu Leu Gly Ile Phe Pro Pro Phe Ser Pro Gly His Ile Trp 675 680 685 Glu Pro Ala Asn Pro Phe Cys Gly Glu Gly Thr Leu Tyr Thr Arg Thr 690 695 700 Trp Ser Thr Ser Gly Phe Ser Ser Asp Phe Ser Pro Pro Glu Ala Ala 705 710 715 720 Ala Pro Val Leu Ala Ala Ala Pro Gly Leu Pro His Pro Thr Pro Pro 725 730 735 Val Ser Asp Ile Trp Val Leu Pro Pro Pro Ser Lys Glu Ser Gln Val 740 745 750 Asp Ala Ala Ser Val Pro Pro Ala Pro Glu Pro Ala Gly Leu Pro Ser 755 760 765 Ser Ile Val Leu Thr Leu Pro Pro Pro Leu Pro Pro Val Arg Lys Pro 770 775 780 Pro Thr Pro Pro Pro Ser Arg Thr Arg Arg Leu Leu Tyr Thr Tyr Pro 785 790 795 800 Asp Gly Ala Lys Val Tyr Ala Gly Ser Leu Phe Glu Ser Asp Cys Asn 805 810 815 Trp Leu Val Asn Ala Ser Asn Pro Gly His Arg Pro Gly Gly Gly Leu 820 825 830 Cys His Ala Phe Tyr Gln Arg Phe Pro Glu Ala Phe Tyr Pro Thr Glu 835 840 845 Phe Ile Met Arg Glu Gly Leu Ala Ala Tyr Thr Leu Thr Pro Arg Pro 850 855 860 Ile Ile His Ala Val Ala Pro Asp Tyr Arg Val Glu Gln Asn Pro Lys 865 870 875 880 Arg Leu Glu Ala Ala Tyr Arg Glu Thr Cys Ser Arg Arg Gly Thr Ala 885 890 895 Ala Tyr Pro Leu Leu Gly Ser Gly Ile Tyr Gln Val Pro Val Ser Leu 900 905 910 Ser Phe Asp Ala Trp Glu Arg Asn His Arg Pro Gly Asp Glu Leu Tyr 915 920 925 Leu Thr Glu Pro Ala Ala Ala Trp Phe Glu Ala Asn Lys Pro Ala Gln 930 935 940 Pro Ala Leu Thr Ile Thr Glu Asp Thr Ala Arg Thr Ala Asn Leu Ala 945 950 955 960 Leu Glu Ile Asp Ala Ala Thr Asp Val Gly Arg Ala Cys Ala Gly Cys 965 970 975 Thr Ile Ser Pro Gly Ile Val His Tyr Gln Phe Thr Ala Gly Val Pro 980 985 990 Gly Ser Gly Lys Ser Arg Ser Ile Gln Gln Gly Asp Val Asp Val Val 995 1000 1005 Val Val Pro Thr Arg Glu Leu Arg Asn Ser Trp Arg Arg Arg Gly Phe 1010 1015 1020 Ala Ala Phe Thr Pro His Thr Ala Ala Arg Val Thr Ile Gly Arg Arg 1025 1030 1035 1040 Val Val Ile Asp Glu Ala Pro Ser Leu Pro Pro His Leu Leu Leu Leu 1045 1050 1055 His Met Gln Arg Ala Ser Ser Val His Leu Leu Gly Asp Pro Asn Gln 1060 1065 1070 Ile Pro Ala Ile Asp Phe Glu His Ala Gly Leu Val Pro Ala Ile Arg 1075 1080 1085 Pro Glu Leu Ala Pro Thr Ser Trp Trp His Val Thr His Arg Cys Pro 1090 1095 1100 Ala Asp Val Cys Glu Leu Ile Arg Gly Ala Tyr Pro Lys Ile Gln Thr 1105 1110 1115 1120 Thr Ser Arg Val Leu Arg Ser Leu Phe Trp Asn Glu Pro Ala Ile Gly 1125 1130 1135 Gln Lys Leu Val Phe Thr Gln Ala Ala Lys Ala Ala Asn Pro Gly Ala 1140 1145 1150 Ile Thr Val His Glu Ala Gln Gly Ala Thr Phe Thr Glu Thr Thr Ile 1155 1160 1165 Ile Ala Thr Ala Asp Ala Arg Gly Leu Ile Gln Ser Ser Arg Ala His 1170 1175 1180 Ala Ile Val Ala Leu Thr Arg His Thr Glu Lys Cys Val Ile Leu Asp 1185 1190 1195 1200 Ala Pro Gly Leu Leu Arg Glu Val Gly Ile Ser Asp Val Ile Val Asn 1205 1210 1215 Asn Phe Phe Leu Ala Gly Gly Glu Val Gly His His Arg Pro Ser Val 1220 1225 1230 Ile Pro Arg Gly Asn Pro Asp Gln Asn Leu Gly Thr Leu Gln Ala Phe 1235 1240 1245 Pro Pro Ser Cys Gln Ile Ser Ala Tyr His Gln Leu Ala Glu Glu Leu 1250 1255 1260 Gly His Arg Pro Ala Pro Val Ala Ala Val Leu Pro Pro Cys Pro Glu 1265 1270 1275 1280 Leu Glu Gln Gly Leu Leu Tyr Met Pro Gln Glu Leu Thr Val Ser Asp 1285 1290 1295 Ser Val Leu Val Phe Glu Leu Thr Asp Ile Val His Cys Arg Met Ala 1300 1305 1310 Ala Pro Ser Gln Arg Lys Ala Val Leu Ser Thr Leu Val Gly Arg Tyr 1315 1320 1325 Gly Arg Arg Thr Lys Leu Tyr Glu Ala Ala His Ser Asp Val Arg Glu 1330 1335 1340 Ser Leu Ala Arg Phe Ile Pro Thr Ile Gly Pro Val Gln Ala Thr Thr 1345 1350 1355 1360 Cys Glu Leu Tyr Glu Leu Val Glu Ala Met Val Glu Lys Gly Gln Asp 1365 1370 1375 Gly Ser Ala Val Leu Glu Leu Asp Leu Cys Asn Arg Asp Val Ser Arg 1380 1385 1390 Ile Thr Phe Phe Gln Lys Asp Cys Asn Lys Phe Thr Thr Gly Glu Thr 1395 1400 1405 Ile Ala His Gly Lys Val Gly Gln Gly Ile Ser Ala Trp Ser Lys Thr 1410 1415 1420 Phe Cys Ala Leu Phe Gly Pro Trp Phe Arg Ala Ile Glu Lys Glu Ile 1425 1430 1435 1440 Leu Ala Leu Leu Pro Pro Asn Ile Phe Tyr Gly Asp Ala Tyr Glu Glu 1445 1450 1455 Ser Val Phe Ala Ala Ala Val Ser Gly Ala Gly Ser Cys Met Val Phe 1460 1465 1470 Glu Asn Asp Phe Ser Glu Phe Asp Ser Thr Gln Asn Asn Phe Ser Leu 1475 1480 1485 Gly Leu Glu Cys Val Val Met Glu Glu Cys Gly Met Pro Gln Trp Leu 1490 1495 1500 Ile Arg Leu Tyr His Leu Val Arg Ser Ala Trp Ile Leu Gln Ala Pro 1505 1510 1515 1520 Lys Glu Ser Leu Lys Gly Phe Trp Lys Lys His Ser Gly Glu Pro Gly 1525 1530 1535 Thr Leu Leu Trp Asn Thr Val Trp Asn Met Ala Ile Ile Ala His Cys 1540 1545 1550 Tyr Glu Phe Arg Asp Phe Arg Val Ala Ala Phe Lys Gly Asp Asp Ser 1555 1560 1565 Val Val Leu Cys Ser Asp Tyr Arg Gln Ser Arg Asn Ala Ala Ala Leu 1570 1575 1580 Ile Ala Gly Cys Gly Leu Lys Leu Lys Val Asp Tyr Arg Pro Ile Gly 1585 1590 1595 1600 Leu Tyr Ala Gly Val Val Val Ala Pro Gly Leu Gly Thr Leu Pro Asp 1605 1610 1615 Val Val Arg Phe Ala Gly Arg Leu Ser Glu Lys Asn Trp Gly Pro Gly 1620 1625 1630 Pro Glu Arg Ala Glu Gln Leu Arg Leu Ala Val Cys Asp Phe Leu Arg 1635 1640 1645 Gly Leu Thr Asn Val Ala Gln Val Cys Val Asp Val Val Ser Arg Val 1650 1655 1660 Tyr Gly Val Ser Pro Gly Leu Val His Asn Leu Ile Gly Met Leu Gln 1665 1670 1675 1680 Thr Ile Ala Asp Gly Lys Ala His Phe Thr Glu Thr Ile Lys Pro Val 1685 1690 1695 Leu Asp Leu Thr Asn Ser Ile Ile Gln Arg Val Glu 1700 1705 3 7207 DNA Hepatitis E virus 3 ttcgatgcca tggaggccca tcagttcatt aaggctcctg gcattactac tgccattgag 60 caggctgctc tggctgcggc caactccgcc ttggcgaatg ctgtggtggt tcggccgttt 120 ttatctcgtg tacaaactga gatccttatt aatttgatgc aaccccggca gttggttttc 180 cgccctgagg tactttggaa tcatcctatc cagcgggcaa tacataatga actggaacag 240 tactgccgag cccgggctgg ttgttgtttg gaagttggag cccatccgag atttattaat 300 gacaatccca acgtcctgca ccggtgcttc cttagaccgg ttggccgaga tgtccagcgc 360 tggtactctg cccccacccg tggccctgcg gccaattgtc gccgctccgc gctgcgtggc 420 cttccccccg tcgaccgcac ttactgtttt gatggattct ctcgttgtgc tttcgctgca 480 gagaccggtg tggccctcta ctctttacat gacctttggc cagctgatgt tgcggaggct 540 atggcccgcc acgggatgac acgcctatac gccgcactgc accttcttcc cgaggtgctg 600 ctaccacccg gcacctacca cacaacttcg tacctcctga ttcacgacgg tgaccgcgct 660 gttgtgactt atgagggcga tactagtgcg ggctataacc atgatgtctc catactccgt 720 gcgtggatcc gtaccactaa aatagttggt gaccacccgt tggttataga gcgtgtgcgg 780 gccattggct gtcattttgt gctgctgctc accgcagccc ctgaaccgtc acctatgcct 840 tatgtcccct accctcgttc aacggaggtg tatgttcgat ccatatttgg ccctggcggc 900 tccccatcct tgtttccgtc agcctgctct actaaatcta catttcatgc tgtcccggtt 960 catatctggg atcggctcat gctttttggt gccaccctgg atgaccaggc cttttgttgt 1020 tcacggctca tgacctacct ccgtggtatt agctacaagg tcactgtcgg tgcgcttgtc 1080 gctaatgagg ggtggaacgc ctctgaagat gctcttactg cagtgattac tgccgcttat 1140 ctgactattt gccatcagcg ttatcttcgc acccaggcga tatccaaggg catgcgccgg 1200 ctggaggttg agcacgccca gaaatttatc acaagacttt acagttggct atttgagaag 1260 tctggccgtg attatatccc cggccgtcag cttcagttct acgcacagtg ccggcggtgg 1320 ttatctgcag gcttccacct agaccccagg gtgcttgttt ttgatgaatc agtgccatgc 1380 cgctgcagga cgtttttgaa gaaagtcgca ggtaagttct gctgttttat gcggtggtta 1440 gggcaggagt gtacctgttt cttggagcca gccgaaggct tggttggcga ctatggccat 1500 gacaacgagg cctatgaggg ttctgaggtc gacccggctg aacctgctca tcttgatgtt 1560 tctgggacct atgccgttca cgggcgccag cttgaggctc tctatagggc acttaatgtc 1620 ccacatgaca tcgccgctcg agcctcccgc ctaacggcta ctgttgagct cactgcaagc 1680 ccagaccgtt tagagtgccg cactgtgctt ggtaataaga ccttcaggac gacggtggtt 1740 gatggcgccc atcttgaggc gaatggtcct gagcagtatg tcctatcatt cgacgcctcc 1800 cgccagtcta tgggggccgg gtcacatagc ctcacttatg agctcacccc tgccggcctg 1860 caggtcagga tttcatctaa tggcctggat tgcacagcca cattcccccc cggcggcgcc 1920 cctagcgctg cgccggggga ggtggcggcc ttttgcagtg ccctttatag atataatagg 1980 ttcacccagc ggcattcgct gaccggtggg ttatggctac accctgaggg attgctgggc 2040 atcttccccc ctttctcccc tgggcacatt tgggagcctg ctaacccttt ctgcggggag 2100 gggactttgt atacccggac ttggtcaaca tctggctttt ctagcgattt ctccccccct 2160 gaggcggccg cccccgtttt ggccgctgcc ccggggctgc cccaccctac cccacctgtt 2220 agtgacattt gggtgttacc accaccttca aaggagtctc aggtcgatgc ggcatctgtg 2280 ccccctgctc ctgagcccgc tggattaccc agctccattg tgcttaccct cccccccccc 2340 ctccctcctg tgcgtaagcc accaacaccc ccgccttccc gcactcgtcg tctcctctac 2400 acctatcccg acggcgcaaa ggtgtatgcg gggtcattgt ttgaatcaga ctgtaactgg 2460 ctggttaatg cctcaaaccc gggccaccgc cctggaggtg gcctctgcca tgctttttac 2520 caacgtttcc cagaggcgtt ttacccgact gagttcatta tgcgtgaggg ccttgcagca 2580 tataccctga ccccgcgccc tatcattcat gcagtggccc ccgactatag ggttgagcag 2640 aatccgaaga ggcttgaggc agcgtaccgg gagacttgct cccgtcgtgg caccgccgcc 2700 tacccgcttc taggctcggg tatataccag gtccctgtca gcctcagttt tgatgcctgg 2760 gaacgcaatc accgccccgg cgatgagctt tatttgactg agcccgccgc agcctggttc 2820 gaggctaata agccggcgca gccggcgctt actataactg aggacacagc ccgtacggcc 2880 aacctagcgt tagagatcga tgctgccaca gatgttggcc gtgcttgtgc cggctgcact 2940 atcagtcctg ggattgtgca ctatcagttc actgccgggg tcccaggctc gggcaagtct 3000 cggtccatac aacagggaga tgtcgatgtg gtggtcgtgc ccacccggga gctccgtaat 3060 agttggcgtc gccggggttt tgcggctttc acacctcaca cagcagcccg tgtcactatc 3120 ggtcgccgcg ttgtgattga tgaggctcca tctctccctc cacacctgtt gctgttacac 3180 atgcagcggg cctcctcggt ccatctcctt ggtgacccaa atcagatccc tgccattgat 3240 tttgaacacg ccggcctggt tcccgcgatc cgccctgagc ttgctccaac gagctggtgg 3300 cacgttacac accgttgccc ggccgatgta tgcgagctca tacgcggagc ctaccctaaa 3360 atccagacca cgagccgtgt gctgcggtcc ctgttctgga acgaacctgc tatcggccag 3420 aagttggtct tcacgcaggc tgctaaagct gctaaccctg gtgcgattac ggttcatgaa 3480 gctcagggtg ccacttttac agagaccaca attatagcca cggccgatgc caggggcctt 3540 atccagtcat cccgggctca cgctatagtc gcactcaccc gccacactga gaagtgtgtt 3600 attctggatg ctcccggcct gctgcgtgag gtcggcattt cggatgtgat tgtcaataac 3660 tttttccttg ctggcggaga agtcggccat caccgccctt ctgtgatacc ccgcggtaac 3720 cctgatcaga acctcgggac tctacaggcc ttcccgccgt cctgccagat tagtgcttac 3780 caccaattgg ctgaagaatt aggccaccgt ccggctcctg ttgccgccgt cttgccccct 3840 tgccctgagc ttgagcaggg cctgctctat atgccacaag agcttactgt gtctgatagt 3900 gtgttggttt ttgagctcac ggatatagtc cactgtcgca tggccgctcc gagccagcga 3960 aaggctgttc tctcaacact tgtagggaga tacggccgta ggacgaaatt atatgaggca 4020 gcgcattcag atgttcgtga gtccctggcc aggttcattc ccactatcgg gcctgttcag 4080 gccaccacat gtgagttgta tgagttggtt gaggccatgg tggagaaggg acaggacggc 4140 tctgccgtcc tagagcttga cctttgcaat cgtgacgtat cgcgcatcac atttttccaa 4200 aaggattgca acaagtttac aactggtgag actatcgccc atggcaaggt tggtcagggt 4260 atatcggcct ggagtaagac cttctgtgct ctgtttggcc cgtggttccg tgccattgaa 4320 aaagaaatac tggccctact cccgcctaat atcttttatg gcgacgccta tgaggaatca 4380 gtgttcgctg ccgctgtgtc cggggcgggg tcgtgcatgg tatttgaaaa tgacttttca 4440 gagtttgaca gtacccaaaa taatttctcc cttggccttg agtgtgtggt tatggaggag 4500 tgcggcatgc cccagtggct aattaggttg tatcatctgg ttcggtcagc ctggattttg 4560 caggcgccga aggagtctct taagggtttc tggaagaagc attctggtga gcctggtacc 4620 cttctctgga acaccgtctg gaacatggcg attatagcac attgttatga gtttcgtgac 4680 tttcgtgttg ccgccttcaa gggtgatgat tcagtggtcc tttgtagtga ctaccgacag 4740 agccgtaatg cggctgcctt aattgcaggc tgtgggctca aattgaaggt tgactaccgc 4800 cctattgggc tgtatgccgg ggtggtggtg gcccctggtc tggggacact gcctgatgtt 4860 gtgcgtttcg ccggtcggtt gtctgaaaag aattggggcc ccggcccaga gcgtgctgag 4920 cagctgcgtc ttgctgtttg tgacttcctt cgagggttga caaatgttgc gcaggtttgt 4980 gttgatgttg tgtcccgtgt ttatggagtt agccccgggc tggtgcataa ccttattggc 5040 atgctgcaga ctattgccga tggcaaggcc cactttacag agactattaa acctgtgctt 5100 gaccttacaa actctatcat acagcgggtg gaatgaataa catgtctttt gcatcgccca 5160 tgggatcacc atgcgcccta gggctgttct gttgttgctc ttcgtgcttc tgcctatgct 5220 gcccgcgcca ccggccggcc agccgtctgg ccgccgttgt gggcggcgca acggcggtgc 5280 cggcggtggt ttctggggtg acagggttga ttctcagccc ttcgccctcc cctatattca 5340 tccaaccaac cccttcgctg ccgatgtcgt ttcacaaccc ggggctggag ttcgccctcg 5400 acagccgccc cgcccccttg gctccgcttg gcgtgaccag tcccagcgcc cctccactgc 5460 cccccgtcgt cgatctgccc cagctggggc tgcgccgctg actgctgtat caccggcccc 5520 cgacacagct cctgtacctg atgttgactc acgtggtgct atcctgcgcc ggcagtacaa 5580 tctgtctacg tccccgctca cgtcatctgt cgctgctggt accaacctgg ttctctatgc 5640 cgccccgctg aatcctctct tgcccctcca ggatggcacc aacactcata ttatggctac 5700 tgaggcgtcc aattatgctc agtatcgggt tgttcgagct acgatccgtt atcgcccgct 5760 ggtgccaaat gctgttggtg gctatgctat ctctatttct ttctggcctc aaactacaac 5820 cacccctact tcagttgaca tgaactctat tacctccact gatgtcagga ttttggttca 5880 gcccggtatt gcctccgagt tagtcatccc tagtgagcgc cttcattacc gcaatcaagg 5940 ctggcgctct gtagagacca cgggcgtggc cgaggaggaa gctacctccg gtctggtaat 6000 gctttgcatt cacggttctc ctgttaactc ctatactaac acaccttaca ctggtgcatt 6060 ggggctcctt gattttgcat tagagcttga attcagaaat ttgacacccg ggaacactaa 6120 cacccgtgtt tcccggtaca ccagcacagc ccgccatcgg ctgcgccgcg gtgctgatgg 6180 gaccgcagag cttaccacca cagcagccac acgtttcatg aaggacttgc atttcaccgg 6240 cacgaacggc gttggtgagg tgggtcgcgg tatagctcta acactgttta accttgctga 6300 tacgcttctt ggtggtttac cgacagaatt gatttcgtcg gccgggggcc aactgtttta 6360 ctcccgccct gtcgtctcgg ccaatggcga gccgacggtt aagttatata catctgttga 6420 gaatgcgcag caggacaagg gcattaccat cccacacgat atagatctgg gtgattcccg 6480 tgtggttatt caggattatg ataaccagca cgagcaagac cgacctactc cgtcaccagc 6540 cccctctcgc cctttctcag ttcttcgcgc caatgatgtt ctgtggctct ccctcaccgc 6600 cgctgagtac gatcagacta catatgggtc gtccaccaac cctatgtatg tctccgatac 6660 ggtcacgcta gttaatgtgg ccactggtgc tcaggctgtt gcccgctctc ttgattggtc 6720 taaagtcact ctggatggcc gccccctcac taccattcag cagtattcaa agacattcta 6780 tgttctcccg ctccgcggga agctgtcctt ttgggaggct ggtaccacta aggccggcta 6840 cccgtataat tataatacca ctgctagtga tcaaattttg attgagaacg cggctggcca 6900 ccgtgttgct atctctacct ataccactag cttgggtgcc ggccctacct cgatttccgc 6960 cgttggtgtg ctagccccac actcggctct cgccgtcctt gaggatactg ttgattaccc 7020 tgctcgtgct catacttttg atgatttctg cccggagtgc cgcacccttg gtttgcaggg 7080 ttgtgcattc cagtctacta ttgctgagct tcagcgtctt aaaatgaagg taggtaaaac 7140 ccgggagtct taattaattc cttttgtgcc cccttcatag cttcctttgg ttttatttct 7200 tatttct 7207 4 21 DNA Hepatitis E virus 4 aaytatgcma gtaccgggtt g 21 5 23 DNA Hepatitis E virus 5 cccttatcct gctgagcatt ctc 23 6 22 DNA Hepatitis E virus 6 gtyatgytyt gcatacatgg ct 22 7 22 DNA Hepatitis E virus 7 agccgacgaa atyaattctg tc 22 8 23 DNA Hepatitis E virus 8 gccgagtayg accagtccac tta 23 9 23 DNA Hepatitis E virus 9 ayaactcccg agttttaccc acc 23 10 23 DNA Hepatitis E virus 10 tggtkaatgt wgcgacyggc gcg 23 11 23 DNA Hepatitis E virus 11 gctcagcgac agtwgactgr aaa 23 12 660 PRT Hepatitis E virus 12 Met Arg Pro Arg Pro Ile Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Met Phe Leu Pro Met 1 5 10 15 Leu Pro Ala Pro Pro Pro Gly Gln Pro Ser Gly Arg Arg Arg Gly Arg 20 25 30 Arg Ser Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Phe Trp Gly Asp Arg Val Asp Ser 35 40 45 Gln Pro Phe Ala Ile Pro Tyr Ile His Pro Thr Asn Pro Phe Ala Pro 50 55 60 Asp Val Thr Ala Ala Ala Gly Ala Gly Pro Arg Val Arg Gln Pro Ala 65 70 75 80 Arg Pro Leu Gly Ser Ala Trp Arg Asp Gln Ala Gln Arg Pro Ala Ala 85 90 95 Ala Ser Arg Arg Arg Pro Thr Thr Ala Gly Ala Ala Pro Leu Thr Ala 100 105 110 Val Ala Pro Ala His Asp Thr Pro Pro Val Pro Asp Val Asp Ser Arg 115 120 125 Gly Ala Ile Leu Arg Arg Gln Tyr Asn Leu Ser Thr Ser Pro Leu Thr 130 135 140 Ser Ser Val Ala Thr Gly Thr Asn Leu Val Leu Tyr Ala Ala Pro Leu 145 150 155 160 Ser Pro Leu Leu Pro Leu Gln Asp Gly Thr Asn Thr His Ile Met Ala 165 170 175 Thr Glu Ala Ser Asn Tyr Ala Gln Tyr Arg Val Ala Arg Ala Thr Ile 180 185 190 Arg Tyr Arg Pro Leu Val Pro Asn Ala Val Gly Gly Tyr Ala Ile Ser 195 200 205 Ile Ser Phe Trp Pro Gln Thr Thr Thr Thr Pro Thr Ser Val Asp Met 210 215 220 Asn Ser Ile Thr Ser Thr Asp Val Arg Ile Leu Val Gln Pro Gly Ile 225 230 235 240 Ala Ser Glu Leu Val Ile Pro Ser Glu Arg Leu His Tyr Arg Asn Gln 245 250 255 Gly Trp Arg Ser Val Glu Thr Ser Gly Val Ala Glu Glu Glu Ala Thr 260 265 270 Ser Gly Leu Val Met Leu Cys Ile His Gly Ser Pro Val Asn Ser Tyr 275 280 285 Thr Asn Thr Pro Tyr Thr Gly Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu Asp Phe Ala Leu 290 295 300 Glu Leu Glu Phe Arg Asn Leu Thr Pro Gly Asn Thr Asn Thr Arg Val 305 310 315 320 Ser Arg Tyr Ser Ser Thr Ala Arg His Arg Leu Arg Arg Gly Ala Asp 325 330 335 Gly Thr Ala Glu Leu Thr Thr Thr Ala Ala Thr Arg Phe Met Lys Asp 340 345 350 Leu Tyr Phe Thr Ser Thr Asn Gly Val Gly Glu Ile Gly Arg Gly Ile 355 360 365 Ala Leu Thr Leu Phe Asn Leu Ala Asp Thr Leu Leu Gly Gly Leu Pro 370 375 380 Thr Glu Leu Ile Ser Ser Ala Gly Gly Gln Leu Phe Tyr Ser Arg Pro 385 390 395 400 Val Val Ser Ala Asn Gly Glu Pro Thr Val Lys Leu Tyr Thr Ser Val 405 410 415 Glu Asn Ala Gln Gln Asp Lys Gly Ile Ala Ile Pro His Asp Ile Asp 420 425 430 Leu Gly Glu Ser Arg Val Val Ile Gln Asp Tyr Asp Asn Gln His Glu 435 440 445 Gln Asp Arg Pro Thr Pro Ser Pro Ala Pro Ser Arg Pro Phe Ser Val 450 455 460 Leu Arg Ala Asn Asp Val Leu Trp Leu Ser Leu Thr Ala Ala Glu Tyr 465 470 475 480 Asp Gln Ser Thr Tyr Gly Ser Ser Thr Gly Pro Val Tyr Val Ser Asp 485 490 495 Ser Val Thr Leu Val Asn Val Ala Thr Gly Ala Gln Ala Val Ala Arg 500 505 510 Ser Leu Asp Trp Thr Lys Val Thr Leu Asp Gly Arg Pro Leu Ser Thr 515 520 525 Ile Gln Gln Tyr Ser Lys Thr Phe Phe Val Leu Pro Leu Arg Gly Lys 530 535 540 Leu Ser Phe Trp Glu Ala Gly Thr Thr Lys Ala Gly Tyr Pro Tyr Asn 545 550 555 560 Tyr Asn Thr Thr Ala Ser Asp Gln Leu Leu Val Glu Asn Ala Ala Gly 565 570 575 His Arg Val Ala Ile Ser Thr Tyr Thr Thr Ser Leu Gly Ala Gly Pro 580 585 590 Val Ser Ile Ser Ala Val Ala Val Leu Ala Pro His Ser Val Leu Ala 595 600 605 Leu Leu Glu Asp Thr Met Asp Tyr Pro Ala Arg Ala His Thr Phe Asp 610 615 620 Asp Phe Cys Pro Glu Cys Arg Pro Leu Gly Leu Gln Gly Cys Ala Phe 625 630 635 640 Gln Ser Thr Val Ala Glu Leu Gln Arg Leu Lys Met Lys Val Gly Lys 645 650 655 Thr Arg Glu Leu 660 13 123 PRT Hepatitis E virus 13 Met Asn Asn Met Ser Phe Ala Ala Pro Met Gly Ser Arg Pro Cys Ala 1 5 10 15 Leu Gly Leu Phe Cys Cys Cys Ser Ser Cys Phe Cys Leu Cys Cys Pro 20 25 30 Arg His Arg Pro Val Ser Arg Leu Ala Ala Val Val Gly Gly Ala Ala 35 40 45 Ala Val Pro Ala Val Val Ser Gly Val Thr Gly Leu Ile Leu Ser Pro 50 55 60 Ser Gln Ser Pro Ile Phe Ile Gln Pro Thr Pro Ser Pro Pro Met Ser 65 70 75 80 Pro Leu Arg Pro Gly Leu Asp Leu Val Phe Ala Asn Pro Pro Asp His 85 90 95 Ser Ala Pro Leu Gly Val Thr Arg Pro Ser Ala Pro Pro Leu Pro His 100 105 110 Val Val Asp Leu Pro Gln Leu Gly Pro Arg Arg 115 120 14 22 DNA Hepatitis E virus 14 atatgtggtc gatgccatgg ag 22 15 22 DNA Hepatitis E virus 15 ctcggcagta ctgttccagt tc 22 16 22 DNA Hepatitis E virus 16 tcgatgccat ggaggcccat ca 22 17 22 DNA Hepatitis E virus 17 gtattgcccg ctggatagga tc 22 18 22 DNA Hepatitis E virus 18 aaggctcmtg gcatcactac tg 22 19 22 DNA Hepatitis E virus 19 cagaggcrtt ccagccttca tt 22 20 22 DNA Hepatitis E virus 20 tggcatcact actgytattg ag 22 21 22 DNA Hepatitis E virus 21 gggagcagca aaaggcytgg tc 22 22 28 DNA Hepatitis E virus 22 tctacatttc atgctgtccc ggttcata 28 23 20 DNA Hepatitis E virus 23 tcctgaccaa gccacttcat 20 24 20 DNA Hepatitis E virus 24 gatgaccaag ccttttgctg 20 25 20 DNA Hepatitis E virus 25 taatcacggc cggacttctc 20 26 26 DNA Hepatitis E virus 26 tgccatcagc gttatcttcg caccca 26 27 26 DNA Hepatitis E virus 27 gcacggccaa catctgtggc agcatc 26 28 26 DNA Hepatitis E virus 28 acccaggcga tatccaaggg catgcg 26 29 26 DNA Hepatitis E virus 29 gcatcgatct ctaacgctag gttggc 26 30 20 DNA Hepatitis E virus 30 tatmgrttgg aacataaccc 20 31 20 DNA Hepatitis E virus 31 cggtgtgtaa cgtgccacca 20 32 20 DNA Hepatitis E virus 32 ttygaygcct gggagcggaa 20 33 20 DNA Hepatitis E virus 33 aaatcaatgg cagggatctg 20 34 22 DNA Hepatitis E virus 34 ggcgymgggt tgtcattgat ga 22 35 22 DNA Hepatitis E virus 35 gggagtaggg ccagtatttc tt 22 36 22 DNA Hepatitis E virus 36 ttggygaccc gaaycagatc cc 22 37 22 DNA Hepatitis E virus 37 ctttttcaat ggcacggaac ca 22 38 23 DNA Hepatitis E virus 38 gaggcsatgg tsgagaaggg cca 23 39 22 DNA Hepatitis E virus 39 aagagcaaca acagaacagc cc 22 40 23 DNA Hepatitis E virus 40 accttyttcc agaargattg taa 23 41 22 DNA Hepatitis E virus 41 ctagggcgca tggtgatccc at 22 42 22 DNA Hepatitis E virus 42 ctggaagaar caytcyggtg ag 22 43 22 DNA Hepatitis E virus 43 aagagcaaca acagaacagc cc 22 44 22 DNA Hepatitis E virus 44 tggaatackg tstggaayat gg 22 45 22 DNA Hepatitis E virus 45 ctagggcgca tggtgatccc at 22 46 22 DNA Hepatitis E virus 46 ctcagttctt cgcgccaatg at 22 47 22 DNA Hepatitis E virus 47 tttttttcag ggagcgcggr ac 22 48 660 PRT Hepatitis E virus 48 Met Arg Pro Arg Pro Leu Leu Leu Leu Phe Leu Leu Phe Leu Pro Met 1 5 10 15 Leu Pro Ala Pro Pro Thr Gly Gln Pro Ser Gly Arg Arg Arg Gly Arg 20 25 30 Arg Ser Gly Gly Thr Gly Gly Gly Phe Trp Gly Asp Arg Val Asp Ser 35 40 45 Gln Pro Phe Ala Ile Pro Tyr Ile His Pro Thr Asn Pro Phe Ala Pro 50 55 60 Asp Val Ala Ala Ala Ser Gly Ser Gly Pro Arg Leu Arg Gln Pro Ala 65 70 75 80 Arg Pro Leu Gly Ser Thr Trp Arg Asp Gln Ala Gln Arg Pro Ser Ala 85 90 95 Ala Ser Arg Arg Arg Pro Thr Thr Ala Gly Ala Ala Ala Leu Thr Ala 100 105 110 Val Ala Pro Ala His Asp Thr Ser Pro Val Pro Asp Val Asp Ser Arg 115 120 125 Gly Ala Ile Leu Arg Arg Gln Tyr Asn Leu Ser Thr Ser Pro Leu Thr 130 135 140 Ser Ser Val Ala Ser Gly Thr Asn Leu Val Leu Tyr Ala Ala Pro Leu 145 150 155 160 Asn Pro Pro Leu Pro Leu Gln Asp Gly Thr Asn Thr His Ile Met Ala 165 170 175 Thr Glu Ala Ser Asn Tyr Ala Gln Tyr Arg Val Ala Arg Ala Thr Ile 180 185 190 Arg Tyr Arg Pro Leu Val Pro Asn Ala Val Gly Gly Tyr Ala Ile Ser 195 200 205 Ile Ser Phe Trp Pro Gln Thr Thr Thr Thr Pro Thr Ser Val Asp Met 210 215 220 Asn Ser Ile Thr Ser Thr Asp Val Arg Ile Leu Val Gln Pro Gly Ile 225 230 235 240 Ala Ser Glu Leu Val Ile Pro Ser Glu Arg Leu His Tyr Arg Asn Gln 245 250 255 Gly Trp Arg Ser Val Glu Thr Ser Gly Val Ala Glu Glu Glu Ala Thr 260 265 270 Ser Gly Leu Val Met Leu Cys Ile His Gly Ser Pro Val Asn Ser Tyr 275 280 285 Thr Asn Thr Pro Tyr Thr Gly Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu Asp Phe Ala Leu 290 295 300 Glu Leu Glu Phe Arg Asn Leu Thr Thr Cys Asn Thr Asn Thr Arg Val 305 310 315 320 Ser Arg Tyr Ser Ser Thr Ala Arg His Ser Ala Arg Arg Gly Ala Asp 325 330 335 Gly Thr Ala Glu Leu Thr Thr Thr Ala Ala Thr Arg Phe Met Lys Asp 340 345 350 Leu His Phe Thr Gly Leu Asn Gly Val Gly Glu Val Gly Arg Gly Ile 355 360 365 Ala Leu Thr Leu Leu Asn Leu Ala Asp Thr Leu Leu Gly Gly Leu Pro 370 375 380 Thr Glu Leu Ile Ser Ser Ala Gly Gly Gln Leu Phe Tyr Ser Arg Pro 385 390 395 400 Val Val Ser Ala Asn Gly Glu Pro Thr Val Lys Leu Tyr Thr Ser Val 405 410 415 Glu Asn Ala Gln Gln Asp Lys Gly Val Ala Ile Pro His Asp Ile Asp 420 425 430 Leu Gly Asp Ser Arg Val Val Ile Gln Asp Tyr Asp Asn Gln His Glu 435 440 445 Gln Asp Arg Pro Thr Pro Ser Pro Ala Pro Ser Arg Pro Phe Ser Val 450 455 460 Leu Arg Ala Asn Asp Val Leu Trp Leu Ser Leu Thr Ala Ala Glu Tyr 465 470 475 480 Asp Gln Ser Thr Tyr Gly Ser Ser Thr Gly Pro Val Tyr Ile Ser Asp 485 490 495 Ser Val Thr Leu Val Asn Val Ala Thr Gly Ala Gln Ala Val Ala Arg 500 505 510 Ser Leu Asp Trp Ser Lys Val Thr Leu Asp Gly Arg Pro Leu Pro Thr 515 520 525 Val Glu Gln Tyr Ser Lys Thr Phe Phe Val Leu Pro Leu Arg Gly Lys 530 535 540 Leu Ser Phe Trp Glu Ala Gly Thr Thr Lys Ala Gly Tyr Pro Tyr Asn 545 550 555 560 Tyr Asn Thr Thr Ala Ser Asp Gln Ile Leu Ile Glu Asn Ala Ala Gly 565 570 575 His Arg Val Ala Ile Ser Thr Tyr Thr Thr Arg Leu Gly Ala Gly Pro 580 585 590 Val Ala Ile Ser Ala Ala Ala Val Leu Ala Pro Arg Ser Ala Leu Ala 595 600 605 Leu Leu Glu Asp Thr Phe Asp Tyr Pro Gly Arg Ala His Thr Phe Asp 610 615 620 Asp Phe Cys Pro Glu Cys Arg Ala Leu Gly Leu Gln Gly Cys Ala Phe 625 630 635 640 Gln Ser Thr Val Ala Glu Leu Gln Arg Leu Lys Val Lys Val Gly Lys 645 650 655 Thr Arg Glu Leu 660 49 660 PRT Hepatitis E virus 49 Met Arg Pro Arg Pro Ile Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Met Phe Leu Pro Met 1 5 10 15 Leu Pro Ala Pro Pro Pro Gly Gln Pro Ser Gly Arg Arg Arg Gly Arg 20 25 30 Arg Ser Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Phe Trp Gly Asp Arg Val Asp Ser 35 40 45 Gln Pro Phe Ala Ile Pro Tyr Ile His Pro Thr Asn Pro Phe Ala Pro 50 55 60 Asp Val Thr Ala Ala Ala Gly Ala Gly Pro Arg Val Arg Gln Pro Val 65 70 75 80 Arg Pro Leu Gly Ser Ala Trp Arg Asp Gln Ala Gln Arg Pro Ala Ala 85 90 95 Ala Ser Arg Arg Arg Pro Thr Ala Ala Gly Ala Ala Pro Leu Thr Ala 100 105 110 Val Ala Pro Ala His Asp Thr Pro Pro Val Pro Asp Val Asp Ser Arg 115 120 125 Gly Ala Ile Leu Arg Arg Gln Tyr Asn Leu Ser Thr Ser Pro Leu Thr 130 135 140 Ser Ser Val Ala Thr Gly Thr Asn Leu Val Leu Tyr Ala Ala Pro Leu 145 150 155 160 Ser Pro Leu Leu Pro Leu Gln Asp Gly Thr Asn Thr His Ile Met Ala 165 170 175 Thr Glu Ala Ser Asn Tyr Ala Gln Tyr Arg Val Ala Arg Ala Thr Ile 180 185 190 Arg Tyr Arg Pro Leu Val Pro Asn Ala Val Gly Gly Tyr Ala Ile Ser 195 200 205 Ile Ser Phe Trp Pro Gln Thr Thr Thr Thr Pro Thr Ser Val Asp Met 210 215 220 Asn Ser Ile Thr Ser Thr Asp Val Arg Ile Leu Val Gln Pro Gly Ile 225 230 235 240 Ala Ser Glu Leu Val Ile Pro Ser Glu Arg Leu His Tyr Arg Asn Gln 245 250 255 Gly Trp Arg Ser Val Glu Thr Ser Gly Val Ala Glu Glu Glu Ala Thr 260 265 270 Ser Gly Leu Val Met Leu Cys Ile His Gly Ser Pro Val Asn Ser Tyr 275 280 285 Thr Asn Thr Pro Tyr Thr Gly Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu Asp Phe Ala Leu 290 295 300 Glu Leu Glu Phe Arg Asn Leu Thr Pro Gly Asn Thr Asn Thr Arg Val 305 310 315 320 Ser Arg Tyr Ser Ser Thr Ala Arg His Arg Leu Arg Arg Gly Ala Asp 325 330 335 Gly Thr Ala Glu Leu Thr Thr Thr Ala Ala Thr Arg Phe Met Lys Asp 340 345 350 Leu Tyr Phe Thr Ser Thr Asn Gly Val Gly Glu Ile Gly Arg Gly Ile 355 360 365 Ala Leu Thr Leu Phe Asn Leu Ala Asp Thr Leu Leu Gly Gly Leu Pro 370 375 380 Thr Glu Leu Ile Ser Ser Ala Gly Gly Gln Leu Phe Tyr Ser Arg Pro 385 390 395 400 Val Val Ser Ala Asn Gly Glu Pro Thr Val Lys Leu Tyr Thr Ser Val 405 410 415 Glu Asn Ala Gln Gln Asp Lys Gly Ile Ala Ile Pro His Asp Ile Asp 420 425 430 Leu Gly Glu Ser Arg Val Val Ile Gln Asp Tyr Asp Asn Gln His Glu 435 440 445 Gln Asp Arg Pro Thr Pro Ser Pro Ala Pro Ser Arg Pro Phe Ser Val 450 455 460 Leu Arg Ala Asn Asp Val Leu Trp Leu Ser Leu Thr Ala Ala Glu Tyr 465 470 475 480 Asp Gln Ser Thr Tyr Gly Ser Ser Thr Gly Pro Val Tyr Val Ser Asp 485 490 495 Ser Val Thr Leu Val Asn Val Ala Thr Gly Ala Gln Ala Val Ala Arg 500 505 510 Ser Leu Asp Trp Thr Lys Val Thr Leu Asp Gly Arg Pro Leu Ser Thr 515 520 525 Ile Gln Gln Tyr Ser Lys Thr Phe Phe Val Leu Pro Leu Arg Gly Lys 530 535 540 Leu Ser Phe Trp Glu Ala Gly Thr Thr Lys Ala Gly Tyr Pro Tyr Asn 545 550 555 560 Tyr Asn Thr Thr Ala Ser Asp Gln Leu Leu Val Glu Asn Ala Ala Gly 565 570 575 His Arg Val Ala Ile Ser Thr Tyr Thr Thr Ser Leu Gly Ala Gly Pro 580 585 590 Val Ser Ile Ser Ala Val Ala Val Leu Thr Pro His Ser Ala Leu Ala 595 600 605 Leu Leu Glu Asp Thr Met Asp Tyr Pro Ala Arg Ala His Thr Phe Asp 610 615 620 Asp Phe Cys Pro Glu Cys Arg Pro Leu Gly Leu Gln Gly Cys Ala Phe 625 630 635 640 Gln Ser Thr Val Ala Glu Leu Gln Arg Leu Lys Met Lys Val Gly Lys 645 650 655 Thr Arg Glu Leu 660 50 660 PRT Hepatitis E virus 50 Met Arg Pro Arg Pro Ile Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Met Phe Leu Pro Met 1 5 10 15 Leu Pro Ala Pro Pro Pro Gly Gln Pro Ser Gly Arg Arg Arg Gly Arg 20 25 30 Arg Ser Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Phe Trp Gly Asp Arg Val Asp Ser 35 40 45 Gln Pro Phe Ala Ile Pro Tyr Ile His Pro Thr Asn Pro Phe Ala Pro 50 55 60 Asp Val Thr Ala Ala Ala Gly Ala Gly Pro Arg Val Arg Gln Pro Ala 65 70 75 80 Arg Pro Leu Gly Ser Ala Trp Arg Asp Gln Ala Gln Arg Pro Ala Val 85 90 95 Ala Ser Arg Arg Arg Pro Thr Thr Ala Gly Ala Ala Pro Leu Thr Ala 100 105 110 Val Ala Pro Ala His Asp Thr Pro Pro Val Pro Asp Val Asp Ser Arg 115 120 125 Gly Ala Ile Leu Arg Arg Gln Tyr Asn Leu Ser Thr Ser Pro Leu Thr 130 135 140 Ser Ser Val Ala Thr Gly Thr Asn Leu Val Leu Tyr Ala Ala Pro Leu 145 150 155 160 Ser Pro Leu Leu Pro Leu Gln Asp Gly Thr Asn Thr His Ile Met Ala 165 170 175 Thr Glu Ala Ser Asn Tyr Ala Gln Tyr Arg Val Ala Arg Ala Thr Ile 180 185 190 Arg Tyr Arg Pro Leu Val Pro Asn Ala Val Gly Gly Tyr Ala Ile Ser 195 200 205 Ile Ser Phe Trp Pro Gln Thr Thr Thr Thr Pro Thr Ser Val Asp Met 210 215 220 Asn Ser Ile Thr Ser Thr Asp Val Arg Ile Leu Val Gln Pro Gly Ile 225 230 235 240 Ala Ser Glu Leu Val Ile Pro Ser Glu Arg Leu His Tyr Arg Asn Gln 245 250 255 Gly Trp Arg Ser Val Glu Thr Ser Gly Val Ala Glu Glu Glu Ala Thr 260 265 270 Ser Gly Leu Val Met Leu Cys Ile His Gly Ser Leu Val Asn Ser Tyr 275 280 285 Thr Asn Thr Pro Tyr Thr Gly Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu Asp Phe Ala Leu 290 295 300 Glu Leu Glu Phe Arg Asn Leu Thr Pro Gly Asn Thr Asn Thr Arg Val 305 310 315 320 Ser Arg Tyr Ser Ser Thr Ala Arg His Arg Leu Arg Arg Gly Ala Asp 325 330 335 Gly Thr Ala Glu Leu Thr Thr Thr Ala Ala Thr Arg Phe Met Lys Asp 340 345 350 Leu Tyr Phe Thr Ser Thr Asn Gly Val Gly Glu Ile Gly Arg Gly Ile 355 360 365 Ala Leu Thr Leu Phe Asn Leu Ala Asp Thr Leu Leu Gly Gly Leu Pro 370 375 380 Thr Glu Leu Ile Ser Ser Ala Gly Gly Gln Leu Phe Tyr Ser Arg Pro 385 390 395 400 Val Val Ser Ala Asn Gly Glu Pro Thr Val Lys Leu Tyr Thr Ser Val 405 410 415 Glu Asn Ala Gln Gln Asp Lys Gly Ile Ala Ile Pro His Asp Ile Asp 420 425 430 Leu Gly Glu Ser Arg Val Val Ile Gln Asp Tyr Asp Asn Gln His Glu 435 440 445 Gln Asp Arg Pro Thr Pro Ser Pro Ala Pro Ser Arg Pro Phe Ser Val 450 455 460 Leu Arg Ala Asn Asp Val Leu Trp Leu Ser Leu Thr Ala Ala Glu Tyr 465 470 475 480 Asp Gln Ser Thr Tyr Gly Ser Ser Thr Gly Pro Val Tyr Val Ser Asp 485 490 495 Ser Val Thr Leu Val Asn Val Ala Thr Gly Ala Gln Ala Val Ala Arg 500 505 510 Ser Leu Asp Trp Thr Lys Val Thr Leu Asp Gly Arg Pro Leu Ser Thr 515 520 525 Ile Gln Gln Tyr Ser Lys Thr Phe Phe Val Leu Pro Leu Arg Gly Lys 530 535 540 Leu Ser Phe Trp Glu Ala Gly Thr Thr Lys Ala Gly Tyr Pro Tyr Asn 545 550 555 560 Tyr Asn Thr Thr Ala Ser Asp Gln Leu Leu Val Glu Asn Ala Ala Gly 565 570 575 His Arg Val Ala Ile Ser Thr Tyr Thr Thr Ser Leu Gly Ala Gly Pro 580 585 590 Val Ser Ile Ser Ala Val Ala Val Leu Ala Pro His Ser Ala Leu Ala 595 600 605 Leu Leu Glu Asp Thr Leu Asp Tyr Pro Ala Arg Ala His Thr Phe Asp 610 615 620 Asp Phe Cys Pro Glu Cys Arg Pro Leu Gly Leu Gln Gly Cys Ala Phe 625 630 635 640 Gln Ser Thr Val Ala Glu Leu Gln Arg Leu Lys Met Lys Val Gly Lys 645 650 655 Thr Arg Glu Leu 660 51 660 PRT Hepatitis E virus 51 Met Arg Pro Arg Pro Ile Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Met Phe Leu Pro Met 1 5 10 15 Leu Pro Ala Pro Pro Pro Gly Gln Pro Ser Gly Arg Arg Arg Gly Arg 20 25 30 Arg Ser Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Phe Trp Gly Asp Arg Val Asp Ser 35 40 45 Gln Pro Phe Ala Ile Pro Tyr Ile His Pro Thr Asn Pro Phe Ala Pro 50 55 60 Asp Val Thr Ala Ala Ala Gly Ala Gly Pro Arg Val Arg Gln Ser Ala 65 70 75 80 Arg Pro Leu Gly Ser Ala Trp Arg Asp Gln Ala Gln Arg Pro Ala Ala 85 90 95 Ala Pro Arg Arg Arg Pro Thr Thr Ala Gly Ala Ala Pro Leu Thr Ala 100 105 110 Val Ala Pro Ala His Asp Thr Pro Pro Val Pro Asp Val Asp Ser Arg 115 120 125 Gly Ala Ile Leu Arg Arg Gln Tyr Asn Leu Ser Thr Ser Pro Leu Thr 130 135 140 Ser Ser Val Ala Thr Gly Thr Asn Leu Val Leu Tyr Ala Ala Pro Leu 145 150 155 160 Ser Pro Leu Leu Pro Leu Gln Asp Gly Thr Asn Thr His Ile Met Ala 165 170 175 Thr Glu Ala Ser Asn Tyr Ala Gln Tyr Arg Val Ala Arg Ala Thr Ile 180 185 190 Arg Tyr Arg Pro Leu Val Pro Asn Ala Val Gly Gly Tyr Ala Ile Ser 195 200 205 Ile Ser Phe Trp Pro Gln Thr Thr Thr Thr Pro Thr Ser Val Asp Met 210 215 220 Asn Ser Ile Thr Ser Thr Asp Val Arg Ile Leu Val Gln Pro Gly Ile 225 230 235 240 Ala Ser Glu Leu Val Ile Pro Ser Glu Arg Leu His Tyr Arg Asn Gln 245 250 255 Gly Trp Arg Ser Val Glu Thr Ser Gly Val Ala Glu Glu Glu Ala Thr 260 265 270 Ser Gly Leu Val Met Leu Cys Ile His Gly Ser Pro Val Asn Ser Tyr 275 280 285 Thr Asn Thr Pro Tyr Thr Gly Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu Asp Phe Ala Leu 290 295 300 Glu Leu Glu Phe Arg Asn Leu Thr Pro Gly Asn Thr Asn Thr Arg Val 305 310 315 320 Ser Arg Tyr Ser Ser Thr Ala Arg His Arg Leu Arg Arg Gly Ala Asp 325 330 335 Gly Thr Ala Glu Leu Thr Thr Thr Ala Ala Thr Arg Phe Met Lys Asp 340 345 350 Leu Tyr Phe Thr Ser Thr Asn Gly Val Gly Glu Ile Gly Arg Gly Ile 355 360 365 Ala Leu Thr Leu Phe Asn Leu Ala Asp Thr Leu Leu Gly Gly Leu Pro 370 375 380 Thr Glu Leu Ile Ser Ser Ala Gly Gly Gln Leu Phe Tyr Ser Arg Pro 385 390 395 400 Val Val Ser Ala Asn Gly Glu Pro Thr Val Lys Leu Tyr Arg Ser Val 405 410 415 Glu Asn Ala Gln Gln Asp Lys Gly Ile Ala Ile Pro His Asp Ile Asp 420 425 430 Leu Gly Glu Ser Arg Val Val Ile Gln Asp Tyr Asp Asn Gln His Glu 435 440 445 Gln Asp Arg Pro Thr Pro Ser Pro Ala Pro Ser Arg Pro Phe Ser Val 450 455 460 Leu Arg Ala Asn Asp Ala Leu Trp Leu Ser Leu Thr Ala Ala Glu Tyr 465 470 475 480 Asp Gln Ser Thr Tyr Gly Ser Ser Thr Gly Pro Val Tyr Val Ser Asp 485 490 495 Ser Val Thr Leu Val Asn Val Ala Thr Gly Ala Gln Ala Val Ala Arg 500 505 510 Ser Leu Asp Trp Thr Lys Val Thr Leu Asp Gly Arg Pro Leu Ser Thr 515 520 525 Ile Gln Gln Tyr Ser Lys Thr Phe Phe Val Leu Pro Leu Arg Gly Lys 530 535 540 Leu Ser Phe Trp Glu Ala Gly Thr Thr Lys Ala Gly Tyr Pro Tyr Asn 545 550 555 560 Tyr Asn Thr Thr Ala Ser Asp Gln Leu Leu Val Glu Asn Ala Ala Gly 565 570 575 His Arg Val Ala Ile Ser Thr Tyr Thr Thr Ser Leu Gly Ala Gly Pro 580 585 590 Val Ser Ile Ser Ala Val Ala Val Leu Ala Pro His Ser Ala Leu Ala 595 600 605 Leu Leu Glu Asp Thr Leu Asp Tyr Pro Ala Arg Ala His Thr Phe Asp 610 615 620 Asp Phe Cys Pro Glu Cys Arg Pro Leu Gly Leu Gln Gly Cys Ala Phe 625 630 635 640 Gln Ser Thr Val Ala Glu Leu Gln Arg Leu Lys Met Lys Val Gly Lys 645 650 655 Thr Arg Glu Leu 660 52 660 PRT Hepatitis E virus 52 Met Arg Pro Arg Pro Ile Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Met Phe Leu Pro Ile 1 5 10 15 Val Pro Ala Pro Pro Pro Gly Gln Pro Ser Gly Arg Arg Arg Gly Arg 20 25 30 Arg Ser Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Phe Trp Gly Asp Arg Val Asp Ser 35 40 45 Gln Pro Phe Ala Ile Pro Tyr Ile His Pro Thr Asn Pro Phe Ala Pro 50 55 60 Asp Val Thr Ala Ala Ala Gly Ala Gly Pro Arg Val Arg Gln Pro Ala 65 70 75 80 Arg Pro Leu Gly Ser Ala Trp Arg Asp Gln Ala Gln Arg Pro Ala Ala 85 90 95 Ala Ser Arg Arg Arg Pro Thr Thr Ala Gly Ala Ala Pro Leu Thr Ala 100 105 110 Val Ala Pro Ala His Asp Thr Pro Pro Val Pro Asp Val Asp Ser Arg 115 120 125 Gly Ala Ile Leu Arg Arg Gln Tyr Asn Leu Ser Thr Ser Pro Leu Thr 130 135 140 Ser Ser Val Ala Thr Gly Thr Asn Leu Val Leu Tyr Ala Ala Pro Leu 145 150 155 160 Ser Pro Leu Leu Pro Leu Gln Asp Gly Thr Asn Thr His Ile Met Ala 165 170 175 Thr Glu Ala Ser Asn Tyr Ala Gln Tyr Arg Val Ala Arg Ala Thr Ile 180 185 190 Arg Tyr Arg Pro Leu Val Pro Asn Ala Val Gly Gly Tyr Gly Ile Ser 195 200 205 Ile Ser Phe Trp Pro Gln Thr Thr Thr Thr Pro Thr Ser Val Asp Met 210 215 220 Asn Ser Ile Thr Ser Thr Asp Val Arg Ile Leu Val Gln Pro Gly Ile 225 230 235 240 Ala Ser Glu Leu Val Ile Pro Ser Glu Arg Leu His Tyr Arg Asn Gln 245 250 255 Gly Trp Arg Ser Val Glu Thr Ser Gly Val Ala Glu Glu Glu Ala Thr 260 265 270 Ser Gly Leu Val Met Leu Cys Ile His Gly Ser Pro Val Asn Ser Tyr 275 280 285 Thr Asn Thr Pro Tyr Thr Gly Ala Leu Gly Val Leu Asp Phe Ala Leu 290 295 300 Glu Leu Glu Phe Arg Asn Leu Thr Pro Gly Asn Thr Asn Thr Arg Val 305 310 315 320 Ser Arg Tyr Ser Ser Thr Ala Arg His Arg Leu Arg Arg Gly Thr Asp 325 330 335 Gly Thr Ala Glu Leu Thr Thr Thr Ala Ala Thr Arg Phe Met Lys Asp 340 345 350 Leu Tyr Phe Thr Ser Thr Asn Gly Val Gly Glu Ile Gly Arg Gly Ile 355 360 365 Ala Leu Thr Leu Phe Asn Leu Ala Asp Thr Leu Leu Gly Gly Leu Pro 370 375 380 Thr Glu Leu Ile Ser Ser Ala Gly Gly Gln Leu Phe Tyr Ser Arg Pro 385 390 395 400 Val Val Ser Ala Asn Gly Glu Pro Thr Val Lys Leu Tyr Thr Ser Val 405 410 415 Glu Asn Ala Gln Gln Asp Lys Gly Ile Ala Ile Pro His Asp Ile Asp 420 425 430 Leu Gly Glu Ser Arg Val Val Ile Gln Asp Tyr Asp Asn Gln His Glu 435 440 445 Gln Asp Arg Pro Thr Pro Ser Pro Ala Pro Ser Arg Pro Phe Ser Val 450 455 460 Leu Arg Ala Asn Asp Val Leu Trp Leu Ser Leu Thr Ala Ala Glu Tyr 465 470 475 480 Asp Gln Ser Thr Tyr Gly Ser Ser Thr Gly Pro Val Tyr Val Ser Asp 485 490 495 Ser Val Thr Leu Val Asn Val Ala Thr Gly Ala Gln Ala Val Ala Arg 500 505 510 Ser Leu Asp Trp Thr Lys Val Thr Leu Asp Gly Arg Pro Leu Ser Thr 515 520 525 Ile Gln Gln Tyr Cys Lys Thr Phe Phe Val Leu Pro Leu Arg Gly Lys 530 535 540 Leu Ser Phe Trp Glu Ala Gly Thr Thr Lys Ala Gly Tyr Pro Tyr Asn 545 550 555 560 Tyr Asn Thr Thr Ala Ser Asp Gln Leu Leu Val Glu Asn Ala Ala Gly 565 570 575 His Arg Val Ala Ile Ser Thr Tyr Thr Thr Ser Leu Gly Ala Gly Pro 580 585 590 Val Ser Ile Ser Ala Val Ala Val Leu Ala Pro His Ser Ala Leu Ala 595 600 605 Leu Leu Glu Asp Thr Met Asp Tyr Pro Ala Arg Ala His Thr Phe Asp 610 615 620 Asp Phe Cys Pro Glu Cys Arg Pro Leu Gly Leu Gln Gly Cys Ala Phe 625 630 635 640 Gln Ser Thr Val Ala Glu Leu Gln Arg Leu Lys Met Lys Val Gly Lys 645 650 655 Thr Arg Glu Leu 660 53 660 PRT Hepatitis E virus 53 Met Arg Pro Arg Pro Ile Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Met Phe Leu Pro Met 1 5 10 15 Leu Pro Ala Pro Pro Pro Gly Gln Pro Ser Gly Arg Arg Arg Gly Arg 20 25 30 Arg Ser Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Phe Trp Gly Asp Arg Val Asp Ser 35 40 45 Gln Pro Phe Ala Ile Pro His Ile His Pro Thr Asn Pro Phe Ala Pro 50 55 60 Asp Val Thr Ala Ala Ala Gly Ala Gly Pro Arg Val Arg Gln Pro Ala 65 70 75 80 Arg Pro Leu Gly Ser Ala Trp Arg Asp Gln Ala Gln Arg Pro Ala Ala 85 90 95 Thr Ser Arg Arg Arg Pro Thr Thr Ala Gly Ala Ala Pro Leu Thr Ala 100 105 110 Val Ala Pro Ala His Asp Thr Pro Pro Val Pro Asp Val Asp Ser Arg 115 120 125 Gly Ala Ile Leu Arg Arg Gln Tyr Asn Leu Ser Thr Ser Pro Leu Thr 130 135 140 Ser Pro Val Ala Thr Gly Thr Asn Leu Val Leu Tyr Ala Ala Pro Leu 145 150 155 160 Ser Pro Leu Leu Pro Leu Gln Asp Gly Thr Asn Thr His Ile Met Ala 165 170 175 Thr Glu Ala Ser Asn Tyr Ala Gln Tyr Arg Val Ala Arg Ala Thr Ile 180 185 190 Arg Tyr Arg Pro Leu Val Pro Asn Ala Val Gly Gly Tyr Ala Ile Ser 195 200 205 Ile Ser Phe Trp Pro Gln Thr Thr Thr Thr Pro Thr Ser Val Asp Met 210 215 220 Asn Ser Ile Thr Ser Thr Asp Val Arg Ile Leu Val Gln Pro Gly Ile 225 230 235 240 Ala Ser Glu Leu Val Ile Pro Ser Glu Arg Leu His Tyr Arg Asn Gln 245 250 255 Gly Trp Arg Ser Val Glu Thr Ser Gly Val Ala Glu Glu Glu Ala Thr 260 265 270 Ser Gly Leu Val Met Leu Cys Ile His Gly Leu Pro Val Asn Ser Tyr 275 280 285 Thr Asn Thr Pro Tyr Thr Gly Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu Asp Phe Ala Leu 290 295 300 Glu Phe Glu Phe Arg Asn Leu Thr Pro Gly Asn Thr Asn Thr Arg Val 305 310 315 320 Ser Arg Tyr Ser Ser Thr Ala Arg His Arg Leu Arg Arg Gly Ala Asp 325 330 335 Gly Thr Ala Glu Leu Thr Thr Thr Ala Ala Thr Arg Phe Met Lys Asp 340 345 350 Leu Tyr Phe Thr Ser Thr Asn Gly Val Gly Glu Ile Gly Arg Gly Ile 355 360 365 Ala Leu Thr Leu Phe Asn Leu Ala Asp Thr Leu Leu Gly Gly Leu Pro 370 375 380 Thr Glu Leu Ile Ser Ser Ala Gly Gly Gln Leu Phe Tyr Ser Arg Pro 385 390 395 400 Val Val Ser Ala Asn Gly Glu Pro Thr Val Lys Leu Tyr Thr Ser Val 405 410 415 Glu Asn Ala Gln Gln Asp Lys Gly Ile Ala Ile Pro His Asp Ile Asp 420 425 430 Leu Gly Glu Ser Arg Val Val Ile Gln Asp Tyr Asp Asn Gln His Glu 435 440 445 Gln Asp Arg Pro Thr Pro Ser Pro Ala Pro Ser Arg Pro Phe Ser Val 450 455 460 Leu Arg Ala Asn Asp Val Leu Trp Leu Ser Leu Thr Ala Ala Glu Tyr 465 470 475 480 Asp Gln Ser Thr Tyr Gly Ser Ser Thr Gly Pro Val Tyr Val Ser Asp 485 490 495 Ser Val Thr Leu Val Asn Val Ala Thr Gly Ala Gln Ala Val Ala Arg 500 505 510 Ser Leu Asp Trp Thr Lys Val Thr Leu Asp Gly Arg Pro Leu Ser Thr 515 520 525 Ile Gln Gln Tyr Ser Lys Thr Phe Phe Val Leu Pro Leu Arg Gly Lys 530 535 540 Leu Ser Phe Trp Glu Ala Gly Thr Thr Lys Ala Gly Tyr Pro Tyr Asn 545 550 555 560 Tyr Asn Thr Thr Ala Ser Asp Gln Leu Leu Ile Glu Asn Ala Ala Gly 565 570 575 His Arg Val Ala Ile Ser Thr Tyr Thr Thr Ser Leu Gly Ala Gly Pro 580 585 590 Val Ala Ile Ser Ala Val Ala Val Leu Ala Pro His Ser Ala Leu Ala 595 600 605 Leu Leu Glu Asp Thr Met Asp Tyr Pro Ala Arg Ala His Thr Phe Asp 610 615 620 Asp Phe Cys Pro Glu Cys Arg Pro Leu Gly Leu Gln Gly Cys Ala Phe 625 630 635 640 Gln Ser Thr Val Ala Glu Leu Gln Arg Leu Lys Met Lys Val Gly Lys 645 650 655 Thr Arg Glu Leu 660 54 660 PRT Hepatitis E virus 54 Met Gly Pro Arg Pro Ile Leu Leu Leu Phe Leu Met Phe Leu Pro Met 1 5 10 15 Leu Leu Ala Pro Pro Pro Gly Gln Pro Ser Gly Arg Arg Arg Gly Arg 20 25 30 Arg Ser Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Phe Trp Gly Asp Arg Val Asp Ser 35 40 45 Gln Pro Phe Ala Ile Pro Tyr Ile His Pro Thr Asn Pro Phe Ala Pro 50 55 60 Asn Val Thr Ala Ala Ala Gly Ala Gly Pro Arg Val Arg Gln Pro Val 65 70 75 80 Arg Pro Leu Gly Ser Ala Trp Arg Asp Gln Ala Gln Arg Pro Ala Ala 85 90 95 Ala Ser Arg Arg Arg Pro Thr Thr Ala Gly Ala Ala Pro Leu Thr Ala 100 105 110 Val Ala Pro Ala His Asp Thr Pro Pro Val Pro Asp Val Asp Ser Arg 115 120 125 Gly Ala Ile Leu Arg Arg Gln Tyr Asn Leu Ser Thr Ser Pro Leu Thr 130 135 140 Ser Ser Val Ala Thr Gly Thr Asn Leu Val Leu Tyr Ala Ala Pro Leu 145 150 155 160 Ser Pro Leu Leu Pro Leu Gln Asp Gly Thr Asn Thr His Ile Met Ala 165 170 175 Thr Glu Ala Ser Asn Tyr Ala Gln Tyr Arg Val Ala Arg Ala Thr Ile 180 185 190 Arg Tyr Arg Pro Leu Val Pro Asn Ala Val Gly Gly Tyr Ala Ile Ser 195 200 205 Ile Ser Phe Trp Pro Gln Thr Thr Pro Thr Pro Thr Ser Val Asp Met 210 215 220 Asn Ser Ile Thr Ser Thr Asp Val Arg Ile Leu Val Gln Pro Gly Ile 225 230 235 240 Ala Ser Glu Leu Val Ile Pro Ser Glu Arg Leu His Tyr Arg Asn Gln 245 250 255 Gly Trp Arg Ser Val Glu Thr Ser Gly Val Ala Glu Glu Glu Ala Thr 260 265 270 Ser Gly Leu Val Met Leu Cys Ile His Gly Ser Pro Val Asn Ser Tyr 275 280 285 Thr Asn Thr Pro Tyr Thr Gly Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu Asp Phe Ala Leu 290 295 300 Glu Leu Glu Phe Arg Asn Leu Thr Pro Gly Asn Thr Asn Thr Arg Val 305 310 315 320 Ser Arg Tyr Ser Ser Thr Ala Arg His Arg Leu Arg Arg Gly Ala Asp 325 330 335 Gly Thr Ala Glu Leu Thr Thr Thr Ala Ala Thr Arg Phe Met Lys Asp 340 345 350 Leu Tyr Phe Thr Ser Thr Asn Gly Val Gly Glu Ile Gly Arg Gly Ile 355 360 365 Ala Leu Thr Leu Phe Asn Leu Ala Asp Thr Leu Leu Gly Gly Leu Pro 370 375 380 Thr Glu Leu Ile Ser Ser Ala Gly Gly Gln Leu Phe Tyr Ser Arg Pro 385 390 395 400 Val Val Ser Ala Asn Gly Glu Pro Thr Val Lys Leu Tyr Thr Ser Val 405 410 415 Glu Asn Ala Gln Gln Asp Lys Gly Ile Ala Ile Pro Asn Asp Ile Asp 420 425 430 Leu Gly Glu Ser Arg Val Val Ile Gln Asp Tyr Asp Asn Gln His Glu 435 440 445 Gln Asp Arg Pro Thr Pro Ser Pro Ala Pro Ser Arg Pro Phe Ser Val 450 455 460 Leu Arg Ala Asn Asp Val Leu Trp Leu Ser Leu Thr Ala Ala Glu Tyr 465 470 475 480 Asp Gln Ser Thr Tyr Gly Ser Ser Thr Gly Pro Val Tyr Val Ser Asp 485 490 495 Ser Val Thr Leu Val Asn Val Ala Thr Gly Ala Gln Ala Val Ala Arg 500 505 510 Ser Leu Asp Trp Thr Lys Val Thr Leu Asp Gly Arg Pro Leu Ser Thr 515 520 525 Ile Gln Gln Tyr Ser Lys Ile Phe Phe Val Leu Pro Leu Arg Gly Lys 530 535 540 Leu Ser Phe Trp Glu Ala Gly Thr Thr Arg Pro Gly Tyr Pro Tyr Asn 545 550 555 560 Tyr Asn Thr Thr Ala Ser Asp Gln Leu Leu Val Glu Asn Ala Ala Gly 565 570 575 His Arg Val Ala Ile Ser Thr Tyr Thr Thr Ser Leu Gly Ala Gly Pro 580 585 590 Val Ser Ile Ser Ala Val Ala Val Leu Gly Pro His Ser Ala Leu Ala 595 600 605 Leu Leu Glu Asp Thr Leu Asp Tyr Pro Ala Arg Ala His Thr Phe Asp 610 615 620 Asp Phe Cys Pro Glu Cys Arg Pro Leu Gly Leu Gln Gly Cys Ala Phe 625 630 635 640 Gln Ser Thr Val Ala Glu Leu Gln Arg Leu Lys Met Lys Val Gly Lys 645 650 655 Thr Arg Glu Leu 660 55 660 PRT Hepatitis E virus 55 Met Arg Pro Arg Pro Ile Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Met Phe Leu Pro Met 1 5 10 15 Leu Pro Ala Pro Pro Pro Gly Gln Pro Ser Gly Arg Arg Arg Gly Arg 20 25 30 Arg Ser Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Phe Trp Gly Asp Arg Val Asp Ser 35 40 45 Gln Pro Phe Ala Ile Pro Tyr Ile His Pro Thr Asn Pro Phe Ala Pro 50 55 60 Asp Val Thr Ala Ala Ala Gly Ala Gly Pro Arg Val Arg Gln Pro Ala 65 70 75 80 Arg Pro Leu Gly Ser Ala Trp Arg Asp Gln Ala Gln Arg Pro Ala Val 85 90 95 Ala Ser Arg Arg Arg Pro Thr Thr Ala Gly Ala Ala Pro Leu Thr Ala 100 105 110 Val Ala Pro Ala His Asp Thr Pro Pro Val Pro Asp Val Asp Ser Arg 115 120 125 Ala Ala Ile Leu Arg Arg Gln Tyr Asn Leu Ser Thr Ser Pro Leu Thr 130 135 140 Ser Ser Val Ala Thr Gly Thr Asn Leu Val Leu Tyr Ala Ala Pro Leu 145 150 155 160 Ser Pro Leu Leu Pro Leu Gln Asp Gly Thr Asn Thr His Ile Met Ala 165 170 175 Thr Glu Ala Ser Asn Tyr Ala Gln Tyr Arg Val Val Arg Ala Thr Ile 180 185 190 Arg Tyr Arg Pro Leu Val Pro Asn Ala Val Gly Gly Tyr Ala Ile Ser 195 200 205 Ile Ser Phe Trp Pro Gln Thr Thr Thr Thr Pro Thr Ser Val Asp Met 210 215 220 Asn Ser Ile Thr Ser Thr Asp Val Arg Ile Leu Val Gln Pro Gly Ile 225 230 235 240 Ala Ser Glu Leu Val Ile Pro Ser Glu Arg Leu His Tyr Arg Asn Gln 245 250 255 Gly Trp Arg Ser Val Glu Thr Ser Gly Val Ala Glu Glu Glu Ala Thr 260 265 270 Ser Gly Leu Val Met Leu Cys Ile His Gly Ser Pro Val Asn Ser Tyr 275 280 285 Thr Asn Thr Pro Tyr Thr Gly Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu Asp Phe Ala Leu 290 295 300 Glu Leu Glu Phe Arg Asn Leu Thr Pro Gly Asn Thr Asn Thr Arg Val 305 310 315 320 Ser Arg Tyr Ser Ser Thr Ala Arg His Arg Leu Arg Arg Gly Ala Asp 325 330 335 Gly Thr Ala Glu Leu Thr Thr Thr Ala Ala Thr Arg Phe Met Lys Asp 340 345 350 Leu Tyr Phe Thr Ser Thr Asn Gly Val Gly Glu Ile Gly Arg Gly Ile 355 360 365 Ala Leu Thr Leu Phe Asn Leu Ala Asp Thr Leu Leu Gly Gly Leu Pro 370 375 380 Thr Glu Leu Ile Ser Ser Ala Gly Gly Gln Leu Phe Tyr Ser Arg Pro 385 390 395 400 Val Val Ser Ala His Gly Glu Pro Thr Val Lys Leu Tyr Thr Ser Val 405 410 415 Glu Asn Ala Gln Gln Asp Lys Gly Ile Ala Ile Pro His Asp Ile Asp 420 425 430 Leu Gly Glu Ser Arg Val Val Ile Gln Asp Tyr Asp Asn Gln His Glu 435 440 445 Gln Asp Arg Pro Thr Pro Ser Pro Ala Pro Ser Arg Pro Phe Ser Val 450 455 460 Leu Arg Ala Asn Asp Val Leu Trp Leu Ser Leu Thr Ala Ala Glu Tyr 465 470 475 480 Asp Gln Ser Thr Tyr Gly Ser Ser Thr Ala Pro Val Tyr Val Ser Asp 485 490 495 Ser Val Thr Leu Val Asn Val Ala Thr Gly Ala Gln Ala Val Ala Arg 500 505 510 Ser Leu Asp Trp Thr Lys Val Thr Leu Asp Gly Arg Pro Leu Ser Thr 515 520 525 Ile Gln Gln Tyr Pro Lys Thr Phe Phe Val Leu Pro Leu Arg Gly Lys 530 535 540 Leu Ser Phe Trp Glu Ala Gly Thr Thr Lys Ala Gly Tyr Pro Tyr Asn 545 550 555 560 Tyr Asn Thr Thr Ala Ser Asp Gln Leu Leu Val Glu Asn Ala Ala Gly 565 570 575 His Arg Val Ala Ile Ser Thr Tyr Thr Thr Ser Leu Gly Ala Gly Pro 580 585 590 Val Ser Ile Ser Ala Val Ala Val Leu Ala Pro His Ser Ala Leu Ala 595 600 605 Leu Leu Glu Asp Thr Leu Asp Tyr Pro Ala Cys Ala His Thr Phe Asp 610 615 620 Asp Phe Cys Pro Glu Cys Arg Pro Leu Gly Leu Gln Gly Cys Ala Phe 625 630 635 640 Gln Ser Thr Val Ala Glu Leu Gln Arg Leu Lys Met Lys Val Gly Lys 645 650 655 Thr Arg Glu Leu 660 56 660 PRT Hepatitis E virus 56 Met Arg Pro Arg Pro Ile Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Met Phe Leu Pro Met 1 5 10 15 Leu Pro Ala Pro Pro Pro Gly Gln Pro Ser Gly Arg Arg Arg Gly Arg 20 25 30 Arg Ser Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Phe Trp Gly Asp Arg Ala Asp Ser 35 40 45 Gln Pro Phe Ala Ile Pro Tyr Ile His Pro Thr Asn Pro Phe Ala Pro 50 55 60 Asp Val Thr Ala Ala Ala Gly Ala Gly Pro Arg Val Arg Gln Pro Ala 65 70 75 80 Arg Pro Leu Gly Ser Ala Trp Arg Asp Gln Ala Gln Arg Pro Ala Ala 85 90 95 Ala Ser Arg Arg Arg Pro Thr Thr Ala Gly Ala Ala Pro Leu Thr Ala 100 105 110 Val Ala Pro Ala His Asp Thr Pro Pro Val Pro Asp Val Asp Ser Arg 115 120 125 Gly Ala Ile Leu Arg Arg Gln Tyr Asn Leu Ser Thr Ser Pro Leu Thr 130 135 140 Ser Ser Val Ala Thr Gly Thr Asn Leu Val Leu Tyr Ala Ala Pro Leu 145 150 155 160 Ser Pro Leu Leu Pro Leu Gln Asp Gly Thr Asn Thr His Ile Met Ala 165 170 175 Thr Glu Ala Ser Asn Tyr Ala Gln Tyr Arg Val Val Arg Ala Thr Ile 180 185 190 Arg Tyr Arg Pro Leu Val Pro Asn Ala Val Gly Gly Tyr Ala Ile Ser 195 200 205 Ile Ser Phe Trp Pro Gln Thr Thr Thr Thr Pro Thr Ser Val Asp Met 210 215 220 Asn Ser Ile Thr Ser Thr Asp Val Arg Ile Leu Val Gln Pro Gly Ile 225 230 235 240 Ala Ser Glu His Val Ile Pro Ser Glu Arg Leu His Tyr Arg Asn Gln 245 250 255 Gly Trp Arg Ser Val Glu Thr Ser Gly Val Ala Glu Glu Glu Ala Thr 260 265 270 Ser Gly Leu Val Met Leu Cys Ile His Gly Ser Leu Val Asn Ser Tyr 275 280 285 Thr Asn Thr Pro Tyr Thr Gly Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu Asp Phe Ala Leu 290 295 300 Glu Leu Glu Phe Arg Asn Leu Thr Pro Gly Asn Thr Asn Thr Arg Val 305 310 315 320 Ser Arg Tyr Ser Ser Thr Ala Arg His Arg Leu Arg Arg Gly Ala Asp 325 330 335 Gly Thr Ala Glu Leu Thr Thr Thr Ala Ala Thr Arg Phe Met Lys Asp 340 345 350 Leu Tyr Phe Thr Ser Thr Asn Gly Val Gly Glu Ile Gly Arg Gly Ile 355 360 365 Ala Leu Thr Leu Phe Asn Leu Ala Asp Thr Leu Leu Gly Gly Leu Pro 370 375 380 Thr Glu Leu Ile Ser Ser Ala Gly Gly Gln Leu Phe Tyr Ser Arg Pro 385 390 395 400 Val Val Ser Ala Asn Gly Glu Pro Thr Val Lys Leu Tyr Thr Ser Val 405 410 415 Glu Asn Ala Gln Gln Asp Lys Gly Ile Ala Ile Pro His Asp Ile Asp 420 425 430 Leu Gly Glu Ser Arg Val Val Ile Gln Asp Tyr Asp Asn Gln His Glu 435 440 445 Gln Asp Arg Pro Thr Pro Ser Pro Ala Pro Ser Arg Pro Phe Ser Val 450 455 460 Leu Arg Ala Asn Asp Val Leu Trp Leu Ser Leu Thr Ala Ala Glu Tyr 465 470 475 480 Asp Gln Ser Thr Tyr Gly Ser Ser Thr Gly Pro Val Tyr Val Ser Asp 485 490 495 Ser Val Thr Leu Val Asn Val Ala Thr Gly Ala Gln Ala Val Ala Arg 500 505 510 Ser Leu Asp Trp Thr Lys Val Thr Leu Asp Gly Arg Pro Leu Ser Thr 515 520 525 Thr Gln Gln Tyr Ser Lys Thr Phe Phe Val Leu Pro Leu Arg Gly Lys 530 535 540 Leu Ser Phe Trp Glu Ala Gly Thr Thr Lys Ala Gly Tyr Pro Tyr Asn 545 550 555 560 Tyr Asn Thr Thr Ala Ser Asp Gln Leu Leu Val Glu Asn Ala Ala Gly 565 570 575 His Arg Val Ala Ile Ser Thr Tyr Thr Thr Ser Leu Gly Ala Gly Pro 580 585 590 Val Ser Ile Ser Ala Val Ala Val Leu Ala Pro His Ser Ala Leu Ala 595 600 605 Leu Leu Glu Asp Thr Met Asp Tyr Pro Ala Arg Ala His Thr Phe Asp 610 615 620 Asp Phe Cys Pro Glu Cys Arg Pro Leu Gly Leu Gln Gly Cys Ala Phe 625 630 635 640 Gln Ser Thr Val Ala Glu Leu Gln Arg Leu Lys Met Lys Val Gly Lys 645 650 655 Thr Arg Glu Leu 660 57 660 PRT Hepatitis E virus 57 Met Arg Pro Arg Ala Val Leu Leu Leu Leu Phe Val Leu Leu Pro Met 1 5 10 15 Leu Pro Ala Pro Pro Ala Gly Gln Pro Ser Gly Arg Arg Cys Gly Arg 20 25 30 Arg Asn Gly Gly Ala Gly Gly Gly Phe Trp Gly Asp Arg Val Asp Ser 35 40 45 Gln Pro Phe Ala Leu Pro Tyr Ile His Pro Thr Asn Pro Phe Ala Ala 50 55 60 Asp Val Val Ser Gln Pro Gly Ala Gly Asp Arg Pro Arg Gln Pro Pro 65 70 75 80 Arg Pro Leu Gly Ser Ala Trp Arg Asp Gln Ser Gln Arg Pro Ser Thr 85 90 95 Ala Pro Arg Arg Arg Ser Ala Pro Ala Gly Ala Ala Pro Leu Thr Ala 100 105 110 Val Ser Pro Ala Pro Asp Thr Ala Pro Val Pro Asp Val Asp Ser Arg 115 120 125 Gly Ala Ile Leu Arg Arg Gln Tyr Asn Leu Ser Thr Ser Pro Leu Thr 130 135 140 Ser Ser Val Ala Ala Gly Thr Asn Leu Val Leu Tyr Ala Ala Pro Leu 145 150 155 160 Asn Pro Leu Leu Pro Leu Gln Asp Gly Thr Asn Thr His Ile Met Ala 165 170 175 Thr Glu Ala Ser Asn Tyr Ala Gln Tyr Arg Val Val Arg Ala Thr Ile 180 185 190 Arg Tyr Arg Pro Leu Val Pro Asn Ala Val Gly Gly Tyr Ala Ile Ser 195 200 205 Ile Ser Phe Trp Pro Gln Thr Thr Thr Thr Pro Thr Ser Val Asp Met 210 215 220 Asn Ser Ile Thr Ser Thr Asp Val Arg Ile Leu Val Gln Pro Gly Ile 225 230 235 240 Ala Ser Glu Leu Val Ile Pro Ser Glu Arg Leu His Tyr Arg Asn Gln 245 250 255 Gly Trp Arg Ser Val Glu Thr Thr Gly Val Ala Glu Glu Glu Ala Thr 260 265 270 Ser Gly Leu Val Met Leu Cys Ile His Gly Ser Pro Val Asn Ser Tyr 275 280 285 Thr Asn Thr Pro Tyr Thr Gly Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu Asp Phe Ala Leu 290 295 300 Glu Leu Glu Phe Arg Asn Leu Thr Pro Gly Asn Thr Asn Thr Arg Val 305 310 315 320 Ser Arg Tyr Thr Ser Thr Ala Arg His Arg Leu Arg Arg Gly Ala Asp 325 330 335 Gly Thr Ala Glu Leu Thr Thr Thr Ala Ala Thr Arg Phe Met Lys Asp 340 345 350 Leu His Phe Thr Gly Thr Asn Gly Val Gly Glu Val Gly Arg Gly Ile 355 360 365 Ala Leu Thr Leu Phe Asn Leu Ala Asp Thr Leu Leu Gly Gly Leu Pro 370 375 380 Thr Glu Leu Ile Ser Ser Ala Gly Gly Gln Leu Phe Tyr Ser Arg Pro 385 390 395 400 Val Val Ser Ala Asn Gly Glu Pro Thr Val Lys Leu Tyr Thr Ser Val 405 410 415 Glu Asn Ala Gln Gln Asp Lys Gly Ile Thr Ile Pro His Asp Ile Asp 420 425 430 Leu Gly Asp Ser Arg Val Val Ile Gln Asp Tyr Asp Asn Gln His Glu 435 440 445 Gln Asp Arg Pro Thr Pro Ser Pro Ala Pro Ser Arg Pro Phe Ser Val 450 455 460 Leu Arg Ala Asn Asp Val Leu Trp Leu Ser Leu Thr Ala Ala Glu Tyr 465 470 475 480 Asp Gln Thr Thr Tyr Gly Ser Ser Thr Asn Pro Met Tyr Val Ser Asp 485 490 495 Thr Val Thr Leu Val Asn Val Ala Thr Gly Ala Gln Ala Val Ala Arg 500 505 510 Ser Leu Asp Trp Ser Lys Val Thr Leu Asp Gly Arg Pro Leu Thr Thr 515 520 525 Ile Gln Gln Tyr Ser Lys Thr Tyr Phe Val Leu Pro Leu Arg Gly Lys 530 535 540 Leu Ser Phe Trp Glu Ala Gly Thr Thr Lys Ala Gly Tyr Pro Tyr Asn 545 550 555 560 Tyr Asn Thr Thr Ala Ser Asp Gln Ile Leu Ile Glu Asn Ala Ala Gly 565 570 575 His Arg Val Ala Ile Ser Thr Tyr Thr Thr Ser Leu Gly Ala Gly Pro 580 585 590 Thr Ser Ile Ser Ala Val Gly Val Leu Ala Pro His Ser Ala Leu Ala 595 600 605 Val Leu Glu Asp Thr Val Asp Tyr Pro Ala Arg Ala His Thr Phe Asp 610 615 620 Asp Phe Cys Pro Glu Cys Arg Thr Leu Gly Leu Gln Gly Cys Ala Phe 625 630 635 640 Gln Ser Thr Ile Ala Glu Leu Gln Arg Leu Lys Met Lys Val Gly Lys 645 650 655 Thr Arg Glu Ser 660 58 123 PRT Hepatitis E virus 58 Met Asn Asn Met Trp Phe Ala Ala Pro Met Gly Ser Pro Pro Cys Ala 1 5 10 15 Leu Gly Leu Phe Cys Cys Cys Ser Ser Cys Phe Cys Leu Cys Cys Pro 20 25 30 Arg His Arg Pro Val Ser Arg Leu Ala Ala Val Val Gly Gly Ala Ala 35 40 45 Ala Val Pro Ala Val Val Ser Gly Val Thr Gly Leu Ile Leu Ser Pro 50 55 60 Ser Gln Ser Pro Ile Phe Ile Gln Pro Thr Pro Leu Pro Gln Thr Leu 65 70 75 80 Pro Leu Arg Pro Gly Leu Asp Leu Ala Phe Ala Asn Gln Pro Gly His 85 90 95 Leu Ala Pro Leu Gly Glu Ile Arg Pro Ser Ala Pro Pro Leu Pro Pro 100 105 110 Val Ala Asp Leu Pro Gln Pro Gly Leu Arg Arg 115 120 59 123 PRT Hepatitis E virus 59 Met Asn Asn Met Ser Phe Ala Ala Pro Met Gly Pro Arg Pro Cys Ala 1 5 10 15 Leu Gly Leu Phe Cys Cys Cys Ser Ser Cys Phe Cys Leu Cys Cys Pro 20 25 30 Arg His Arg Pro Val Ser Arg Leu Ala Ala Val Val Gly Gly Ala Ala 35 40 45 Ala Val Pro Ala Val Val Ser Gly Val Thr Gly Leu Ile Leu Ser Pro 50 55 60 Ser Gln Ser Pro Ile Phe Ile Gln Pro Thr Pro Ser Pro Pro Met Ser 65 70 75 80 Pro Leu Arg Pro Gly Leu Asp Leu Val Phe Ala Asn Pro Ser Asp His 85 90 95 Ser Ala Pro Leu Gly Val Thr Arg Pro Ser Ala Pro Pro Leu Pro His 100 105 110 Val Val Asp Leu Pro Gln Leu Gly Pro Arg Arg 115 120 60 123 PRT Hepatitis E virus 60 Met Asn Asn Met Ser Phe Ala Ala Pro Met Gly Ser Arg Pro Cys Asp 1 5 10 15 Leu Gly Leu Phe Cys Cys Cys Ser Ser Cys Phe Cys Leu Cys Cys Pro 20 25 30 Arg His Arg Pro Val Ser Arg Leu Ala Ala Val Val Gly Gly Ala Ala 35 40 45 Ala Val Pro Ala Val Val Ser Gly Val Thr Gly Leu Ile Leu Ser Pro 50 55 60 Ser Gln Ser Pro Ile Phe Ile Gln Pro Thr Pro Ser Pro Pro Met Ser 65 70 75 80 Pro Leu Arg Pro Gly Leu Asp Leu Val Phe Ala Asn Gln Pro Asp His 85 90 95 Ser Ala Pro Leu Gly Val Thr Arg Pro Ser Ala Pro Pro Leu Pro His 100 105 110 Val Val Asp Leu Pro Gln Leu Gly Pro Arg Arg 115 120 61 123 PRT Hepatitis E virus 61 Met Asn Asn Met Ser Phe Ala Ala Pro Met Gly Ser Arg Pro Cys Ala 1 5 10 15 Leu Gly Leu Phe Cys Cys Cys Ser Ser Cys Phe Cys Leu Cys Cys Pro 20 25 30 Arg His Arg Pro Val Ser Arg Leu Ala Ala Val Val Gly Gly Ala Ala 35 40 45 Ala Val Pro Ala Val Val Ser Gly Val Thr Gly Leu Ile Leu Ser Pro 50 55 60 Ser Gln Ser Pro Ile Phe Ile Gln Pro Thr Pro Leu Pro Pro Met Ser 65 70 75 80 Pro Leu Arg Pro Gly Leu Asp Leu Ala Phe Ala Asn Pro Pro Asp His 85 90 95 Ser Ala Pro Leu Gly Val Thr Arg Pro Ser Ala Pro Pro Leu Pro His 100 105 110 Val Val Asp Leu Pro Gln Leu Gly Pro Arg Arg 115 120 62 123 PRT Hepatitis E virus 62 Met Asn Asn Met Ser Phe Ala Ala Pro Met Gly Trp Arg Pro Cys Ala 1 5 10 15 Leu Gly Leu Phe Cys Cys Cys Ser Ser Cys Phe Cys Leu Ser Cys Pro 20 25 30 Arg His Arg Pro Val Ser Arg Leu Ala Ala Val Val Gly Gly Ala Ala 35 40 45 Ala Val Pro Ala Val Val Ser Gly Val Thr Gly Leu Ile Leu Ser Pro 50 55 60 Ser Gln Ser Pro Ile Phe Ile Gln Pro Thr Pro Ser Pro Pro Met Ser 65 70 75 80 Pro Leu Arg Pro Gly Leu Asp Leu Val Phe Ala Asn Pro Pro Asp His 85 90 95 Ser Ala Pro Leu Gly Val Thr Arg Pro Ser Ala Pro Pro Leu Pro His 100 105 110 Val Val Asp Leu Pro Gln Leu Gly Pro Arg Arg 115 120 63 123 PRT Hepatitis E virus 63 Met Asn Asn Met Ser Ser Ala Ala Pro Met Gly Ser Arg Pro Cys Ala 1 5 10 15 Leu Gly Leu Phe Cys Cys Cys Ser Ser Cys Phe Cys Leu Cys Cys Pro 20 25 30 Arg His Arg Pro Val Ser Arg Leu Ala Ala Ala Val Gly Gly Ala Ala 35 40 45 Ala Val Pro Ala Val Val Ser Gly Val Thr Gly Leu Ile Leu Ser Pro 50 55 60 Ser Gln Ser Pro Ile Phe Ile Gln Pro Thr Pro Ser Pro Pro Met Ser 65 70 75 80 Pro Leu Arg Pro Gly Leu Asp Leu Val Phe Ala Asn Pro Pro Asp His 85 90 95 Ser Ala Pro Leu Gly Val Thr Arg Pro Ser Ala Pro Pro Leu Pro His 100 105 110 Val Val Asp Leu Pro Gln Leu Gly Pro Arg Arg 115 120 64 123 PRT Hepatitis E virus 64 Met Asp Asn Met Ser Phe Ala Ala Pro Met Gly Ser Arg Pro Trp Ala 1 5 10 15 Leu Gly Leu Phe Cys Cys Cys Ser Ser Cys Phe Cys Leu Cys Cys Ser 20 25 30 Arg His Arg Pro Val Ser Arg Leu Ala Ala Val Val Gly Gly Ala Ala 35 40 45 Ala Val Pro Ala Val Val Ser Gly Val Thr Gly Leu Ile Leu Ser Pro 50 55 60 Ser Gln Ser Pro Ile Phe Ile Gln Pro Thr Pro Ser Pro Arg Met Ser 65 70 75 80 Pro Leu Arg Pro Gly Leu Asp Leu Val Phe Ala Asn Pro Ser Asp His 85 90 95 Ser Ala Pro Leu Gly Ala Thr Arg Pro Ser Ala Pro Pro Leu Pro His 100 105 110 Val Val Asp Leu Pro Gln Leu Gly Pro Arg Arg 115 120 65 122 PRT Hepatitis E virus 65 Met Asn Asn Met Ser Phe Ala Ser Pro Met Gly Ser Pro Cys Ala Leu 1 5 10 15 Gly Leu Phe Cys Cys Cys Ser Ser Cys Phe Cys Leu Cys Cys Pro Arg 20 25 30 His Arg Pro Ala Ser Arg Leu Ala Ala Val Val Gly Gly Ala Thr Ala 35 40 45 Val Pro Ala Val Val Ser Gly Val Thr Gly Leu Ile Leu Ser Pro Ser 50 55 60 Pro Ser Pro Ile Phe Ile Gln Pro Thr Pro Ser Leu Pro Met Ser Phe 65 70 75 80 His Asn Pro Gly Leu Glu Phe Ala Leu Asp Ser Arg Pro Ala Pro Leu 85 90 95 Ala Pro Leu Gly Val Thr Ser Pro Ser Ala Pro Pro Leu Pro Pro Val 100 105 110 Val Asp Leu Pro Gln Leu Gly Leu Arg Arg 115 120 

What is claimed is:
 1. A recombinant protein encoded by a nucleic acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO:
 3. 2. The protein of claim 1, wherein said protein is purified.
 3. The protein of claim 1, wherein said protein is the capsid protein of HEV encoded by ORF2 of said nucleic acid sequence and comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO.
 57. 4. The protein of claim 1, wherein said protein is the protein encoded by ORF3 of said nucleic acid sequence and comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO.
 65. 5. The protein of claim 1, wherein said protein is the protein encoded by ORF1 of said nucleic acid sequence and comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO.
 2. 